TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State smashed a pair of three-run home runs Tuesday afternoon at Bob Warn Field to pick up an 8-2 victory over in-state opponent Ball State. It marked the conclusion of midweek action for the Sycamores as they look to close the regular season this weekend as Wichita State comes to town.
 
The Cardinals didn't waste any time getting on the board as a two-run shot off the bat of Sean Kennedy. That was the last time Ball State would push a runner across as Sycamore starting pitcher Tyler Grauer settled down for a solid 4.2 inning start.
 
Indiana State went ahead for good in the third inning after Dominic Bifano and Dane Tofteland each drew walks and Dane Giesler hit his team-leading 15^th home run of the season on a 1-0 count to center field.
 
Clay Dungan added a run in the fifth when he singled through the right side to score Tofteland who walked earlier in the frame. Dungan was not done at the dish as he sent a three-run rocket over the wall in the eighth inning to push the Sycamore lead to 8-2.
 
Senior Jeff Zahn also recorded an RBI in the game as he came up with a clutch single up the middle in the seventh.
 
Grauer (1-1), a right-hander struck out six Ball State hitters on the afternoon en route to his first win of the season. Terre Haute native Damon Olds earned the save after coming out of the bullpen for a solid four and a third innings. The righty struck out five, allowed just two hits and forced the Cardinals into two of their three double plays on the day.
 
Giesler and Dungan were the only Sycamores to finish with multiple base hits. Dungan, a sophomore, finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a stolen base. Giesler went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Both squads finished the game with eight base hits but the Sycamores did their due diligence at the plate, drawing 10 walks compared to just one from BSU. The Sycamores also finished with a trio of stolen bases.
 
TJ Harmon was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in four innings. He fell to 1-2 on the year.
 
The Sycamores welcome Wichita State to Bob Warn Field to close out the regular season for a three-game series starting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
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.