PEORIA, Ill. – Shaye Barton was 4-for-5, the heart of the Sycamore lineup drove in nine runs and Indiana State powered its way to an 11-8 win over Loyola in the opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday evening.
 
The 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup for Indiana State (18-34) drove in nine of the 11 runs in the game as the Trees won their opening game of the MVC Tournament for the second consecutive year.
 
Barton was responsible for four of those RBI while scoring three herself while Bella Peterson drove in three and Amanda Guercio pushed across another two. That trio went a combined 10-for-15 with four runs scored in addition to their nine RBI.
 
In the end, Indiana State recorded season-highs with 11 runs, 11 RBI and 18 hits in the game. It marked the fourth straight MVC Tournament appearance in which the Sycamores opened the league's postseason tournament with a win.
 
Most of that firepower came in the second inning when, facing two outs and nobody on base, the Sycamores scored seven runs, the second-most ever scored in a single inning in a Valley Tournament game and the most since 2001 (before most players on both teams were even born). The Sycamores ripped eight consecutive hits in the frame, followed by a hit by pitch and a walk in that inning.
 
But the game was far from over as Loyola rallied back with a six-run fourth to pull within two, 8-6, as the teams had previously traded runs in the first inning. A Barton RBI single in the fifth would make that a three-run margin before the Ramblers (25-25) added another run in the bottom half of the inning off a Madison Ebeling RBI single, scoring Jessica Shields. Shields led Loyola with a 2-for-4 day with three runs scored.
 
Loyola would not score again in the game while the Sycamores would add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh for the 11-8 final tally.
 
Abbey Kruzel (2-5) claimed the win after allowing three runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings in relief. Gabbi Schnaiter allowed five runs on three hits in the no decision, walking four and fanning one in 3.0 innings.
 
Kiley Jones (14-12) was charged with the loss, responsible for eight runs on nine hits while not recording a strikeout.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
All it took was an all-conference honor to get her mojo going. Shaye Barton went 4-for-5, drove in four runs and scored three herself in a powerful offensive performance. All of that came just hours after the league announced that she was named to the MVC's All-Conference Second Team.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The seven runs scored by Indiana State in the second inning ties for the second-most number of runs scored in an inning in MVC Tournament history.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Abbey Kruzel, Indiana State (2-5)
• Loss: Kiley Jones, Loyola (14-12)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 18-34 (1-0 Postseason)
• Loyola: 25-25 (0-1 Postseason)

UP NEXT

• Indiana State: Advances to face No. 5 Missouri State on Thursday, May 9 at Noon ET (11 a.m. CT)
• Loyola: Season complete

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 1-0 against Loyola all-time in the MVC Tournament.
• ISU is now 12-14 all-time against the Ramblers with a 2-3 mark at neutral sites.
• The 18 hits by the Sycamores are a season high.
• Indiana State's 18 hits tied for second most ever recorded in an MVC Tournament game.
• Shaye Barton's four hits and four RBI are both career-high marks.
• Leslie Sims' three runs scored tied a career high.
• Bella Peterson tied a career high with three hits.
• This game marked the first time this year Indiana State has allowed more than four runs in an inning and still won.
• The Sycamores recorded season highs in at bats (39), runs scored (11), hits (18) and RBI (11).

For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.