TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State wraps up an eight-game road swing to start the 2019 season with a trip to Cullowhee, North Carolina for a pair of midweek games against Western Carolina Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are slated for a 4 p.m. ET first pitch and are set to air live on ESPN+.
ALL-TIME VS WESTERN CAROLINA
Indiana State is 1-0 all time against Western Carolina with the lone meeting in the series coming in the Starkville Regional of the 1989 NCAA Tournament. The Sycamores defeated WCU 10-3 in an elimination game.
TREES OFF TO A HOT START
Indiana State closed out the second weekend of 2019 with another weekend sweep -- this time at the Hughes Brothers Challenge in which the team defeated host UNC Wilmington, Marshall and Iona. The 6-0 start to the year is the fourth-best record to open a season in program history. ISU opened the 1924 season with 11 wins, the 1958 season winning eight-straight and most recently the 1990 campaign with seven-straight wins.
18-UNDEFEATED TEAMS REMAIN
After two weeks of action, there are 18 undefeated teams in college baseball. They are: Indiana State, LSU, North Carolina, Oregon State, Arizona State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Illinois, Richmond, California Baptist, Georgia, Gardner-Webb, Michigan, Penn State, NC State, New Jersey Tech, Baylor and Florida State.
PITCHING STRONG FOR THE SYCAMORES
The pitching staff for the Sycamores has been outstanding through six games this season, allowing just 11 earned runs in 54 innings of work while a 1.83 team ERA ranks 10th best in the nation. Over the last three games, Indiana State recorded a pair of shutouts and has allowed just one earned run. Sophomore
Jake Ridgway has not allowed a run in three appearances (7.1 innings) out of the bullpen.
SEASONED RETURNERS
Indiana State will be one of the most seasoned and veteran units in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2019, returning eight starters from the field and all three starting pitchers from a year ago. In total, the Sycamores return 22 letterwinners from a third-place team. Eight of the nine returning fielders are seniors and two of the three returning starting pitchers are four-year players. In total, the Sycamore roster bolsters 14 seniors, 16 juniors, two sophomores and a trio of freshmen.
THE OPEN ROAD
Opening weekend of the 2019 season featured an 850-mile (1,700 round trip) bus trip for the Sycamores as they made their way to Jacksonville, Florida. It didn't get any easier for the team as week two was a trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, an 835-mile journey from Terre Haute. The Sycamores are currently on the tail end of the eight-game road swing to open the season as they take on Western Carolina for two games in the midweek, a 373-mile trip before making their way back to Terre Haute (1,756 round trip).
STRONG UP THE MIDDLE
Two of the strongest players in the lineup for Indiana State come from the middle infield in seniors
Clay Dungan and
Jarrod Watkins. The duo combined for 135 base hits and 21 stolen bases. Dungan started all 55 games for the Sycamores, hitting .283 to go with a .369 slugging percentage and a .355 on-base percent. He also finished as the team leader in doubles with 14. Watkins was one of four Sycamores to finish over .300 in the box with a .304 average as the leadoff man. In total, Watkins finished with 12 doubles, a pair of triples and 18 RBIs. He was named to the All-MVC Defensive team after finishing the season with a .974 fielding percentage.
BACK ON THE MOUND
On the mound, Indiana State brings back left-handers
Triston Polley and
Tristan Weaver to go along with right-hander
Tyler Ward. The trio started 37 games a year ago and combined for 224.2 innings of action. Polley finished 2018 with a 7-2 overall record to go along with a 3.53 earned run average while Ward went 6-3 with a 3.66 ERA, striking out 55 and walking just 13 batters. Weaver struck out 41 in 66.1 innings and finished 3-5 on the year.
SYCAMORES WITH TWO ON PRESEASON ALL-MVC LIST
Two Sycamores were tabbed to the Preseason All-MVC list in seniors
Triston Polley (LHP) and
Jarrod Watkins (2B). Polley started a team-high 15 games for the Sycamores on the mound in 2018. He finished with a 7-2 record and a 3.53 ERA while pitching a team high 94.1 innings. The southpaw allowed just 37 earned runs and held opponents to a .233 average against. Watkins started all 55 games for the Sycamores his first year in the program in 2018. He was an immediate impact player in the middle infield, earning an MVC All-Defensive nod. He finished second on the team with a .305 batting average going for 69 hits in 226 at bats. Watkins doubled 12 times to go along with two triples while driving in 18 RBIs and scoring 35 runs.
Complete Notes …
FIND US ON SOCIAL
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
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