TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Mycaela Miller drove in both of Indiana State's runs in a scoreless fifth inning and the Sycamores held off Missouri State in the seventh with the tying run 60 feet away in a 2-1 victory over the Bears Friday afternoon at Price Field.
 
The win even the series at one game apiece as the teams split Friday's doubleheader. Indiana State (17-33, 5-20 Missouri Valley) is set to wrap up the regular season in the rubber game of the series on Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m.
 
It was Miller's double that broke open a scoreless tie in the fifth, highlighted by impressive pitching performances on both sides. Mallory Marsicek led off the inning with a double and Bailey Martin singled while Missouri State (29-20, 13-11) committed a fielding error in an attempt to throw out Marsicek. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and one out later, Miller laced the ball into right to give the Sycamores the lead.
 
Missouri State would battle back in the seventh, loading the bases before Arielle Blankenship replaced Abbey Kruzel in the circle. A five-pitch walk sent a run across the plate for Missouri State, cutting ISU's lead in half and sending the tying run to third. Mallory Marsicek would scoop up the next ground ball and throw home for the force out, preventing a run, before taking a ground ball from the next batter for an easy throw to first to clinch the game.
 
Kruzel (1-4) went a season-long 6.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking two. Blankenship (3) claimed the save after issuing one walk while facing three batters.
 
Erin Griesbauer (7-8) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings while walking two and striking out three. Pitcher Bailee Greenlee, then in as a pinch runner, scored the only run for Missouri State while Darby Joerling drew the bases loaded walk for an RBI.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mycaela Miller gets the nod here as she came up big for the Sycamores in a pinch-hit role as Miller Time began in the fifth inning. The sophomore drilled a two-run double to right field, sending both of Indiana State's runs in the game across the plate and breaking open a scoreless game.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
With Shaye Barton's stolen base, Indiana State has been successful in 90.1 percent of their stolen base attempts this season. That percentage ranks the Sycamores tied for 16^th in the nation with Florida Atlantic and leads the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Abbey Kruzel, Indiana State (1-4)
• Loss: Erin Griesbauer, Missouri State (7-8)
• Save: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (3)

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 17-33 (5-20 MVC)
• Missouri State: 29-20 (13-11 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State turned its 22^nd double play of the season in the game, a mark that leads the Missouri Valley Conference. That ties the last year's team for the fourth-most in a single season in school history.
• Mycaela Miller matched a career-high two RBI with her two-run double in the fifth inning.
• This marks the first game this season where the Sycamores won without striking out an opposing batter.
• Arielle Blankenship recorded her third save of the season and the seventh save of her career. That moves her into second all-time at Indiana State in career saves behind teammate Della Gher, who is out this year due to an injury.
• Indiana State is now 28-63 all-time against the Bears with an 11-26 mark in Terre Haute.

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