TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Heavy thunderstorms and a torrential downpour overnight in the Wabash Valley would not keep Indiana State baseball away from the Bob Warn Field Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores closed out their series with Bradley with a pair of wins to clinch the series sweep.
 
After suspending play in game two of the series Friday night in the bottom of the fourth trailing Bradley, 3-2, the Sycamores came back to post a 6-4 win to open the day thanks to a pair of home runs from Dane Tofteland and Clay Dungan. In the finale, ISU saw a masterful performance on the mound from junior Will Kincanon en route to a 4-1 victory.
 
Two Sycamore (21-20, 7-5 MVC) hitters saw the ball exceptionally well all weekend in Tofteland and junior Tyler Friis. Friis led the team with a .692 batting average during the three-game stretch including a 9-for-10 effort during the final two games. Tofteland continued the mash the ball, recording three home runs in the series on his way to a .583 batting average and a 1.500 slugging percentage. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a week in which he broke the single-game school record with 11 RBIs and three home runs in a game, including two grand slams.
 
Game Two – Indiana State 6, Bradley 4
After a Tony Rosselli sacrifice fly in the first inning to give the Sycamores a lead, Bradley bounced back to score a run in each of the next three innings. Tofteland's home run in the third cut the Braves lead to just one at 3-2 before Mother Nature opened the skies to cause a suspension of play.  
 
Saturday's scoring action began with Bradley (18-23, 4-8 MVC) scoring after loading the bases and Andy Shadid picking up an RBI after getting hit by a pitch. That would be all the scoring for the Braves in game two of the series though Ethan Larrison would settle down to shut down the BU lineup with three stellar innings out of the bullpen on his way to the win.
 
The Sycamores showed their power in the seventh when Tofteland hit his second homer of the game to tie it on a two-run blast. Sophomore Clay Dungan would deliver the go-ahead runs with a two-run shot of his own in the seventh, scoring Dane Giesler to make it a 6-4 game. Austin Conway would come in for the two-inning save (9) for the Sycamores.
 
Game Three – Indiana State 4, Bradley 1
Right-hander Will Kincanon put together another strong performance on the mound for the Sycamores in the finale, going eight complete innings and allowing just five hits. The right-hander struck out nine Bradley hitters and walked just two as he improved to 4-4 on the season.
 
Bradley did not have a baserunner until the fourth inning and did not record a hit until the fifth when Andrew Ivelia singled to third to break up the no-hitter.
 
The Sycamore offense held up their end of the deal with a three-spot in the third inning and another run in the fourth for insurance.
 
In just his third start of the season, junior Ryan Toliver had himself a game, finishing 2-for-4 with a leadoff single to start the scoring action for the Trees in the third. He would move into scoring position after Friis picked up a walk and would come around to score as Tofteland lofted a double to right-center to put the Sycamores on the board. ISU would add two more runs i=the very next batter when Giesler singled to center.
 
Friis continued his hot-hitting with an RBI single to score Cody Gardner in the fourth to make it 4-0.
 
Bradley ended the Sycamore shutout bid in the eighth when they were able to string together a trio of hits, but it was too little too late for the Braves.
 
Senior Ryan Keaffaber finished the final inning as thunderstorms rolled into the area. The right-hander sat down the final three batters with ease to pick up his first save of the season.
 
The Sycamores return to action next weekend when they travel to Normal for a weekend series with Illinois State.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.