TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State's Triston Polley struck out a career high 11 batters in a series-opening victory against Southern Illinois Friday night at Bob Warn Field to open up Alumni Weekend.
 
An Avon, Indiana native, Polley (6-0) sat the Salukis down in order in six separate innings of action while allowing just three base hits in nine innings on the mound. The Salukis picked up a single to first in the first inning and did not record a hit again until the fifth inning of play as Polley sat down 10-straight hitters during the stretch.  
 
Though the Salukis (17-20, 1-9 MVC) struggled offensively with just three hits on the night, they were able to take advantage of their time on the base paths. SIU's Will LaRue sent a ball to no-man's land in the infield in the second at bat of the game before moving to second on a stolen base. The Salukis got on the board when two runners broke on a wild pitch and while rundown was happening between first and second, LaRue made his break home and scored.
 
The Sycamores (30-9, 7-3 MVC) answered SIU's early score with three runs in the bottom of the first and did not look back. Clay Dungan, Jarrod Watkins and Romero Harris each recorded base hits to open the game. Watkins tied the game with an RBI double to the gap in center before Harris brought him home a batter later with a single through the left side. ISU tacked on their third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Max Wright.
 
The Sycamores took advantage of a dropped ball in the infield to score two runs in the fifth when Watkins to doubled off the wall in right field to score CJ Huntley and Luke Fegen to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
Harris tallied his first triple of the year on a ball to right-center to bring home an insurance run in the seventh.
 
The Salukis picked up two runs in the fifth after working back-to-back walks to open the inning, eventually scoring on a single off of Polley's glove and a fielder's choice. The walks marked the only free passes issued by Polley in the game.
 
Watkins tied two career highs in the game with four hits and three doubles. The senior also doubled three times against The Citadel earlier in the year.
 
Mason Hiser allowed four earned runs in six and a third innings for the Salukis on eight hits. Hiser fell to 3-3 on the season with the loss. Matt DeSomer went one and two-third innings for SIU and did not allow a baserunner.
 
ISU outhit Southern Illinois, 8-3 in the game and was led by Watkins with four hits. Harris added a pair of hits in the game while Enriquez and Dungan recorded one hit each.
 
Saturday contest with Southern Illinois has been moved to a 12 p.m. ET start at Bob Warn Field due to impending weather in the Wabash Valley.
 
The Sycamores are set to honor baseball alumni in attendance Saturday as well as recognize the 1979 Missouri Valley Conference Championship squad - the team that secured the first MVC Championship and postseason bid in program history.
 
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.