TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State baseball team picked up its fourth-straight BIG 10 victory Tuesday night as the Sycamores defeated No. 25 Illinois, 3-1, at Bob Warn Field to improve to 20-2 on the season.
 
Sycamore pitching was outstanding throughout as head coach Mitch Hannahs rotated hurlers throughout the game in typical midweek fashion. In total, seven ISU pitchers saw action in the game with senior Tyler Ward tossing the final three frames in route to his fourth save of the season.
 
Illinois (17-5) picked up three of their five base hits of the game in the second inning. Indiana State was able to hold the Illini scoreless in the frame thanks in part to a double play before right-hander Austin Cross induced a groundout to shortstop Clay Dungan to end the inning.
 
It wasn't until the sixth that a team notched a run as the Illini struck first when leadoff hitter Ben Troike singled to open the frame before moving into scoring position on a stolen base. Michael Massey brought in Troike with a double to the gap in right to push Illinois ahead.
 
Indiana State wasted no time putting the pressure right back on the Fighting Illini as Romero Harris led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch while Jarrod Watkins and Joe Boyle worked a pair of walks to load the bases. Following a Sycamore strikeout, ISU took advantage of an errant throw home as Illinois third baseman Grant Van Scoy's throw home to start a double sailed high allowing two runs to score.
 
The Sycamores added an insurance run a batter later when Dungan singled to right field to score Boyle from second.
 
That was when the Sycamores called on a Ward to come in for three innings and close out the game. The Rockport, Indiana native retired all nine batters he faced while striking out two in the victory.
 
Geremy Guerrero worked a perfect inning to open the ballgame as the southpaw made his fourth start of the season. Max Klein and Austin Moralis each tallied two strikeouts in an inning each. Evan Giles sat down Illinois in order in the fifth. Sophomore Jake Ridgway was tagged with the lone run in the game, as he pitched the sixth. The right-hander struck out two and allowed two hits while moving to 1-0 on the year.
 
Illini starting pitcher Aidan Maldonado went four and two-third innings in the game, working out of several jams early as the freshman issued six walks. Josh Harris was charged with the loss after allowing three runs in the sixth, falling to 1-1 on the year.
 
The Sycamores open Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend with a trip to Springfield, Missouri to take on Missouri State in a three-game series at Hammons Field.
 
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.