KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State battled back from a five-run deficit Sunday afternoon before ultimately falling to No. 16-ranked Tennessee in the eleventh inning on a walk-off throwing error. With the win, UT split the four-game series with the Sycamores and improved to 7-2 while ISU fell to 3-4 on the year.
 
The Volunteers began the game with four consecutive singles before Indiana State was able to record and out. Head coach Mitch Hannahs made the call to the bullpen for Austin Cross who came in after UT had plated three runs against ISU redshirt freshman Jake Wilson.
 
It was not until the fifth inning that another run was scored as Tennessee added two more on a double from Max Ferguson.
 
The Sycamores answered back as second baseman Josue Urdaneta notched his first career home run in an Indiana State uniform on a two-run blast in the top of the sixth to kickstart the ISU rally.
 
Indiana State put together a two-out rally in the eighth inning to score three runs and tie the game. Urdaneta was able to reach base on a throwing error followed by a four-pitch walk to Max Wright. Diego Gines took the fourth pitch of his at bat and sent it down the line in left for an RBI double before Wright scored on a wild pitch in the next at bat. Brian Fuentes capped off the run with a ball up the middle to bring home Gines from third.
 
Right-hander Joey Hurth (0-1) was dominant out of the bullpen for Indiana State, retiring the Vols in order in three of his five innings of work on the mound. He faced 18 batters and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two but was ultimately charged with the loss.
 
With the bases loaded in the eleventh inning ISU got a chopper to third base but the throw home was wide allowing the winning run to cross the plate.
 
Tennessee's Sean Hunley went 5.2 innings in relief after coming into the game in the first after an injury to UT's Jackson Leath. Hunley struck out six and did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Redmond Walsh improved to 2-0 on the season after going 4.2 innings and striking out five. The right-hander did not allow an earned run while facing 20 batters.
 
Urdaneta led the way at the plate for ISU and was 1-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Wight, Fines, Fuentes, Sears and Magill also tallied base hits in the game.
 
Tennessee outhit Indiana State in the game 8-6 and was 6-for-22 with runners on base compared to ISU's 3-for-12 mark.
 
Indiana State will be back in action on Friday when the team begins a weekend series with Florida International in Miami; part of a seven-game stretch for the Sycamores in the state of Florida.
 
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