TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State baseball hosts in-state foe Purdue Wednesday afternoon at Bob Warn Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+, listen to the action on GoSycamores.com or follow along on Twitter (
@IndStBaseball) for live updates.
For ticket information, call (812) 237-3737 or order tickets online
HERE. Fans can also pick up their 2019 Baseball Posters free-of-charge at the game.
BEST START SINCE 2014
Mitch Hannahs has his squad off to one of the hottest starts in program history and the best start since 2014 at 12-1. The 2014 was Hannahs' first season at the helm of his alma mater as well as the last time the Sycamores reached the postseason with an appearance in the Bloomington Regional hosted by the Hoosiers. Indiana State jumped out to a 14-2 start in 2014 and finished the season 35-18.
PITCHING STRONG FOR THE SYCAMORES
The pitching staff for the Sycamores has been outstanding through the first 13 games this season, allowing 37 earned runs in 118 innings of work with its 2.85 team ERA. Six different Sycamores have ERA's lower than 2.70 entering the fifth week of the season. Starting pitcher
Collin Liberatore has a 2.45 ERA in four starts and 22 innings while right-handed reliever
Jake Ridgway has a 1.08 ERA in seven appearances.
THREE WEEKEND ROAD SWEEPS IN 2019
After a weekend sweep at Mercer, Indiana State has now recorded three road sweeps in the first four weekends of 2019. The 2018 Sycamores recorded just two road sweeps (at The Citadel and Valparaiso). You have to go back to 2014 to find the last road sweeps when the Sycamores took three-straight from New Orleans. ISU also took three in the Mule Mix Classic with the tournament featuring two neutral site games.
WHEN IT'S WRIGHT, IT'S WRIGHT
Junior
Max Wright has hit the ball exceptionally well to open the 2019 season for Indiana State. The catcher leads the team and the Missouri Valley Conference with a .465 average. He has recorded 20 base hits -- including four double and a pair of home runs while his .698 slugging percentage and .538 on-base percentage also lead the team. Wright has seven multi-hit games in 12 starts and is currently riding an 8-game hitting streak.
KEEPING THE BEARS OFF THE BASE PATHS
One of the more impressive numbers from the weekend sweep of Mercer was the ability of Sycamores pitchers and catcher
Max Wright to keep the Bears from stealing bases. Entering the weekend, Mercer had recorded 23 stolen bases on 28 attempts. Over the three-game series, Mercer attempted to steal zero bases. On the season, the opposition is just 6-of-12 on stolen base attempts against the Trees.
JUMPING ON TOP AND CLOSING THEM OUT
Indiana State has put up runs consistently this season, averaging 7.6 runs a game and has outscored opponents, 99-43. ISU has outscored opponents 16-2 in the first inning and 16-8 in the second. The Sycamores have also outscored opponents in all but two innings this season, including a 37-13 mark in the final four innings of games.
NOT AFRAID TO WEAR IT
Indiana State ranks eighth in the nation in hit-by-pitches, taking 33 HBP's in 13 games. Sycamore infielder
Jake Means lead the team with six HBP's while outfielder Roberto Enriquez has been hit-by-pitch five times this season. Eight different players have been hit-by-pitch more than once.
YOU CAN RUN -- BUT I WOULDN'T
Sycamore catcher
Max Wright is one of the best behind the plate in the MVC. The sophomore has had just 22 opponents look to swipe a base with 12 of those runners being thrown out in 2018. He was the top defensive catcher in the MVC with the next best starting catcher being challenged is Matt Duce of DBU with 31 steal attempts against. This season, opponents are 5-of-11 stealing on Wright.
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.
More…
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.
