DALLAS – Indiana State baseball fell during a doubleheader to Dallas Baptist Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. The Sycamores (20-11, 7-4 MVC) dropped the scheduled seven-inning opener 6-5 before falling in the nightcap, 9-0.
 
Jordan Schaffer led the Sycamores over the two games with a .429 average (3-for-7) with two runs scored. Three other Sycamores recorded multiple hits as both squads ended the day with 14 hits each.
 
DBU took advantage of free passes, earning 11 walks and four hit-by-pitches while ISU tallied only five walks to go with four hit-by-pitches.
 
Game One – Dallas Baptist 6, Indiana State 5
Dallas Baptist (22-9, 7-0 MVC) picked up where it left off Friday night, showing off its power inside Horner Ballpark with a pair of three-run home runs. Indiana State put together a five-run rally in the sixth and seventh innings before ultimately falling short.
 
River Town hit his third home run of the series with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the third to put the Pats on top. Austin Bell extended the DBU lead to 6-0 with another three-run home run in the fifth. That was when Indiana State was able to string together some offense and begin their comeback attempt.
 
The Sycamores put together a four-run sixth inning on a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a pair of two run home runs. Schaffer led off the inning taking a ball off his leg before Max Wright hit his team-leading 10th home run of the season to right field. Ellison Hanna II drew a two-out walk before Mike Sears picked up a pinch-hit two-run shot to make it 6-4.
 
After Will Buraconak retired the Patriots in order in the bottom of the sixth, ISU picked up where they left off in the seventh. Schaffer singled and Brian Fuentes was hit-by-pitch to send the go-ahead runner to the plate in Diego Gines.
 
Gines delivered a pinch-hit single that would plate a run before DBU was able to get the final out on a popup to shallow center.
 
Connor Cline was tagged with his first loss of the season, falling to 4-1. Cline finished with four strikeouts and four walks while DBU was able to put up six runs over 4.2 innings. Buraconak was solid out of the bullpen, striking out two in 1.1 innings of work.
 
Schaffer finished with a pair of hits while Dominic Cusumano was 1-for-2 with a double. Both Wright and Sears collected two RBIs with home runs.
 
Kyle Rich improved to 4-1 for the Patriots after tossing five complete and striking out one Sycamore while allowing two earned runs. Luke Trahan recorded the final out to pick up his first save of the season.
 
Bell was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Patriots.
 
Game Two – Dallas Baptist 9, Indiana State 0
Indiana State was shutout for just the second time this season in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Patriots jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back.
 
DBU had just one hit in the inning – a single – but was able to take advantage of two walks, two hit-by-pitches and an error.
 
The first run would come across on a bases-loaded walk before Tristan Weaver plunked the next batter to score a run. ISU looked to be out of the inning but a throwing error at shortstop allowed the third run to score.
 
Dallas Baptist added two more runs in the fourth inning. With two outs on the scoreboard, DBU strung together back-to-back singles before loading the bases with a walk. Andres Sosa sent a line drive to right field that turned around Hanna II to plate two runs before the relay throw home would get the final out of the inning. Cole Moore added a solo home run in the fifth for the Patriots to extend the lead to 6-0. The rest was academic.
 
Weaver allowed six hits and five earned runs over his outing. The left-hander struck out two and issued three walks to fall to 2-3 on the year. Matt Jachec struck out five in 3.2 innings in relief. Aaron Beck and Hanna II led the Trees with two hits apiece.
 
Rhett Kouba improved to 3-1 on the year after tossing seven complete. The right-hander retired seven on strikeouts and issued just one walks. Glenn and Moore tallied a team-high three hits each in the win.
 
UP NEXT
Indiana State will look to salvage a game in the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be available on the Patriot Broadcasting Network as well as on GoSycamores.com and on WIBQ 97.9 FM in the Wabash Valley.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Baseball, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.