FORT MYERS, Fla. – Indiana State picked up its fourth consecutive victory in the Sunshine State Tuesday evening in midweek action, defeating Florida Gulf Coast, 5-3 at Swanson Stadium.
 
The Sycamores (7-4) scored in the first inning as well as the third, fourth and sixth en route to the win, picking up solid pitching throughout the game.
 
Freshman Joey Hurth was credited with the win, improving to 1-1 on the year in his first career start. Hurth, a Hopkins, Minn. native, pitched four innings and struck out three while only allowing one run in the outing – a home run in the bottom of the first.
 
ISU jumped out to an early lead after Miguel Rivera doubled in leadoff man Josue Urdaneta in the top of the first. Urdaneta led off the game with a bunt single. FGCU (7-4) did not wait long to answer back as they tied the game with a solo home run from Richie Garcia in the bottom half.
 
That was all the offense the Eagles would get off of Hurth as the right-hander surrendered just one more hit over the next three innings.
 
The Sycamores would add a run in the third after Jordan Schaffer singled and Max Wright put runners on the corners on a hit-and-run. An RBI groundout from Rivera gave Indiana State the lead and the Sycamores never looked back.
 
A three-hit fourth inning added two more runs for the Sycamores as Sean Ross led of the frame with one of his three hits. Diego Gines made it back-to-back hits with a single up the middle before a pair of wild pitched allowed the first run to score. Urdaneta recorded his fifth RBI of the season a batter later when he singled through the left side to give Indiana State a 4-1 lead.
 
Two innings later Urdaneta picked up a one-out double and was brought home on a single from Schaffer to five the Sycamores their fifth run of the game.
 
Redshirt senior Zach Frey pitched three relief innings and did not allow a run and striking out two and Connor Fenlong pitched a scoreless eighth.
 
Florida Guld Coast strung together four-straight two-out hits, including back-to-back-to-back doubles in the ninth on reliever Tyler Grauer. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Grauer was able to get the swinging strikeout to end the threat and secure the win. 
Urdaneta and Ross led the Sycamores with three hits each while Schaffer added two hits. ISU outhit FGCU 12-9 in the game.
 
Indiana State will travel to Boca Raton for a three-game series with No. 20 Florida Atlantic beginning on Thursday.
 
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