CHARLESTON, Ill. – Indiana State scored two critical runs in the seventh inning and thwarted an Eastern Illinois rally in the nick of time as the Sycamores claimed a doubleheader sweep with a 5-4 win in the nightcap at Williams Field in Charleston Wednesday evening.
 
The Sycamores (13-20) held a 3-2 lead entering the final inning when Leslie Sims drew a one-out walk and made the Panthers (10-29) pay for it. She would steal second to move into scoring position then moved to third on another stolen base. A throwing error by Eastern Illinois – their fifth error of the doubleheader – allowed Sims to score.
 
But the error wouldn't matter as Brooke Mann smashed a two-out double following a fly out and back-to-back walks to load the bases, scoring Shaye Barton for ISU's second run of the inning. The Trees took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
 
Eastern Illinois, just like in the first game of the twinbill, put their rally caps on and threatened the Sycamore win. Megan Burton, who led EIU with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, hit a one-out double to center before Mia Davis scored them both with a home run to left. Tessa Sims, younger sister of Leslie, would take the circle for Indiana State and a walk and an ISU fielding error put the tying run at second for Eastern with the winning run at first. But Tessa would force a ground ball to third that turned into a double play to seal the win and Tessa's first career save.
 
Brooke Mann led ISU at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. She hit her sixth home run of the season, and second of the day, in the second inning and her double in the seventh would score what would prove to be the winning run for Indiana State.
 
Arielle Blankenship (6-5) was credited with the win after allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings. She issued just one walk while striking out four. McKena Coffman (2-9) was charged with the loss for EIU after allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
There are a handful of Sycamores vying for this but Brooke Mann again gets our attention once again as she continued to crush the ball. Her solo home run – the sixth dinger of the season for the senior – gave Indiana State the early lead in the second and then her double in the seventh inning would drive in what would prove to be the winning run for the Sycamores.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The doubleheader sweep of the Panthers marked consecutive wins over Eastern Illinois for the Sycamores for the first time since the 2004-05 seasons.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (6-5)
• Loss: McKenna Coffman, Eastern Illinois (2-9)
• Save: Tessa Sims, Indiana State (1)

 
RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 13-20 (5-11 Away)
• Eastern Illinois: 10-29 (1-5 Home)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 31-45 all-time against Eastern Illinois. The Sycamores have won three of the past five meetings.
• Brooke Mann hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season. All six of her home runs this year to date have been solo shots.
• Mann's home run gives her 16 career home runs, moving into sole possession of third all-time at Indiana State and past Bailey Wittenauer (2009-11).
• With her performance in the circle, Tessa Sims earned her first save of her career.
• This marked the fourth time this season that Leslie Sims has stolen multiple bases in a game. She now has 65 career stolen bases, ranking third all-time at Indiana State.
• Shaye Barton scored her 87^th career run in the game, ranking ninth all-time at Indiana State. She needs to score one more run to move into a tie for eighth alongside Krista McFarren (1981-83) and Erika Crissman (2014-17).

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