VALPARAISO, Ind. -- It was all Indiana State Friday afternoon in northwest Indiana as the Sycamores cruised to a 16-0 run-rule victory over Valparaiso at Bauer Field to secure their second Missouri Valley Conference series win of the season. It marked the most runs score since the Trees beat Illinois State 15-4 May 6, 2017.
 
The Sycamores (28-22, 10-10 MVC) scored in the first on a Jarrod Watkins sacrifice fly and never looked back, tacking on a pair of runs in the second, a season-high for a single inning eight runs in the third and five runs in the fourth inning to cruise to the win.
 
Indiana State loaded the bases with no outs three times in the seven-inning affair, capitalizing on six walks and seven hit-by-pitches as the ISU outhit Valpo, 15-4.
 
Clay Dungan and Jarrod Watkins led the Trees at the plate with three-hit days. Dungan finished 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs scored and an RBI while Watkins drove in three and scored two times. Luke Fegen drove in four runs and Romero Harris picked up three RBIs for the Sycamores.
 
The game featured just three extra-base hits with doubles coming from Roberto Enriquez, Dungan and Fegen.  
 
After singles from Dungan and Fegen in the second, Huntley recorded one of his two hits on the day, scoring both runners to extend the Sycamores lead to 3-0.
 
The third inning saw 14 Sycamores come to the plate as ISU recorded five base hits en route to an eight-run inning -- the team's highest single-inning run total of the season.
 
Watkins, a junior collected a pair of single in the inning while Enriquez and Dungan each tallied doubles. Dane Giesler, Enriquez and Fegen each collected RBI walks with the bases loaded as the Crusaders two pitchers in the 28-minute half inning.
 
The Sycamores took advantage of a pair of walks and two hit-by-pitches in the fourth en route to a five run fourth inning. After Harris pushed across a run on a HBP, Watkins picked up his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon. Fegen capped off the inning with a bases-clearing double, driving in three runs.
 
Indiana State got a solid outing from southpaw Tristan Weaver (3-4) as he went six innings en route to his third win of the season. Weaver struck out four and allowed just three hits. Jake Ridgway tossed the seventh, and struck out two after allowing the first two batters to reach to secure the third shutout of the year for the Trees.
 
Trey Ferketic (4-6) was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits in two and two-third innings.
 
The Sycamores will look for the series sweep Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET against the Crusaders. Fans can listen to the action via GoSycamores.com/Watch.
 
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.