TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State baseball will open its 2018 home slate Friday afternoon as Austin Peay makes the trek to Bob Warn Field for a three-game series. Friday's opener is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch while the Saturday and Sunday games are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts. Fans can follow the action live on GoSycamores.com as
Luke Martin and
Brian Fritz will have the call.
PITCHING STRONG FOR THE SYCAMORES
The pitching staff for the Sycamores has been outstanding through eight games this season, allowing just 22 earned runs in 71 innings of work while a 2.79 team ERA ranks 39th in the nation. At the Hughes Brothers Challenge in Wilmington, N.C., Indiana State recorded a pair of shutouts and has allowed just one earned run. Sophomore
Jake Ridgway has not allowed a run in four appearances (10.1 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.
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.
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FIND US ON SOCIAL
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