PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Indiana State scored two runs in the fifth before adding an insurance run in the eighth en route to a 3-1 victory over Omaha Thursday afternoon at the Snowbird Classic.
 
Collin Liberatore, Jake Ridgway and Tyler Grauer combined to allow just five base hits to the Mavericks over the course of the game.
 
Neither team was able to get any offense going early as both starting pitchers were solid on the mound. Liberatore (1-1) allowed just one base hit in his outing which came in the second inning on a two-out single to left field while UNO starter Easton Smith (1-1) allowed three hits over six innings.
 
The Sycamores got things going in the fifth after freshman Grant Magill led off the frame with a single to right. Dominic Cusumano worked a walk and Brian Fuentes was hit-by-pitch to load the bases with no outs.
 
Juniors Miguel Rivera and Sean Ross put together productive at bats, recording a pair of sacrifice flies to drive in a run each.
 
Jake Ridgway entered from the bullpen in the seventh for the Sycamores. He retired all three batters he faced in the frame before sitting down two in the eighth. ISU made the call to the bullpen for lefty Tyler Grauer to finish the game after UNO put a runner on with two outs in the eighth.
 
After pinch hitter Gavin Baker worked a leadoff walk for the Sycamores in the eighth, the freshman would make his way to third with two outs. Brandt Nowaskie added an insurance run with a squeeze bunt to first.
 
UNO (2-2) would get the bats going in the ninth with a trio of base hits, including a one-out solo home run from Parker Smejkal. The Mavs put runners on the corners before Grauer was able to induce a ground ball to the left side to record his first save of the season.
 
Liberatore went six innings in total, striking out four of the 22 batters he faced while issuing four walks.
 
Rivera, Ross, Schaffer and Magill tallied one hit each for the Sycamores while Keil Krumwiede led UNBO with two hits on the day.
 
ISU continues play at the Snowbird Classic Friday at 3 p.m. with a matchup with Dartmouth.
 
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.