TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Junior Tyler Ward pitched a complete-game shutout against No. 23 Dallas Baptist Friday evening at Bob Warn Field as the Sycamores defeated the Patriots 6-0 to open the weekend series.
 
Ward allowed just six hits to the high-powered Patriots offense that entered the day with 251 runs scored in 34 games this season. The right-hander shut down much of the DBU lineup with just five Patriots recording base hits. Ward also ended DBU leadoff man Jameson Hannah's 46-game reached base streak and his school record 35-game hitting streak.
 
Ward, a Santa Claus, Indiana native, improved to 6-3 on the season after striking out eight and walking just two Patriots. He also retired eight of the final nine batters he saw in the game.
 
Indiana State (19-14, 4-6 MVC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Clay Dungan led off the game with a walk before ISU would eventually load the bases with no outs, allowing Dungan to score as DBU traded in two outs on a double play for the run.
 
The Sycamores offense was ignited once again in the third with Bailey Partlow, who was making his first start of the season behind the plate. Partlow led off with a double down the line in left. He would come around and score an infield groundout from CJ Huntley -- one of two RBIs on the night for the junior -- to make it a 2-0 game in favor of the Sycamores.
 
The offense kept rolling to the dismay of DBU starting pitcher MD Johnson who gave up four runs in three and two-third innings of work.
 
The Sycamores tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth, first on a bases loaded walk to Luke Fegen followed by a sacrifice fly from Partlow. ISU went on to score two more insurance runs in the seventh and the rest was academic.
 
Devlin Granberg finished 2-for-4 for the Patriots. MD Johnson took the loss for the Patriots, falling to 4-2 on the year.
 
Indiana State can clinch the series Saturday at 2 p.m. Baseball Alumni will be recognized prior to first pitch.
 
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