CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State's Geremy Guerrero was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday and answered with a complete-game effort as the two-seeded Sycamores defeated No. 6 seed Illinois State, 5-2, at Itchy Jones Stadium in the opening round of the MVC Championship Wednesday. 
 
Guerrero struck out four Redbirds and surrendered just one free base over the nine-inning outing. The left-hander allowed one run in the second and another in the ninth on seven Illinois State hits but settled in during the middle of the game, and at one point retired 10-straight ILS batters. The Metamora, Ill., native improved to 10-1 on the season -- moving into a tie for sixth-place all-time in single-season wins. 
 
Guerrero was rock solid on the mound, but the Sycamores (28-17) got a career performance from right fielder Ellison Hanna II as the Nassau, Bahamas native belted two home runs in the game -- matching his total on the season entering the game. 
 
After Illinois State (23-33) scored the first run of the game in the top of the second on a Joe Butler single to center, Hanna answered emphatically with a first-pitch two-run blast that cleared the scoreboard in right center. 
 
Both Guerrero and ILS starting pitcher Colton Johnson controlled much of the middle portion of the game from the mound as each sat down at least eight straight batters. 
 
The Sycamores would get a couple insurance runs in the seventh inning as Hanna belted the first pitch that he saw out to right field for his second home run of the game. ISU kept the momentum going as Sean Ross reached on a base hit before coming home to score two batters later on a Josue Urdaneta double to left. 
 
Indiana State picked up back-to-back doubles from Miguel Rivera and Brian Fuentes in the eighth to add to the lead. 
 
First Team All-MVC selection Jordan Schaffer reached on base hits in three plate appearances for the Sycamores while Hanna added three hits and three runs batted in. Rivera and Ross each tallied a pair of base hits as ISU outhit the Redbirds 13-7 on the day. 
 
Johnson took the loss for Illinois State and fell to 3-5 on the season. The Sycamores put up a season-high 11 base hits on the Redbird ace while only striking out three times and drawing one walk. 
 
Butler led the Redbirds at the plate with a three-hit day while Tyson Hays added two hits. 
 
Indiana State had the leadoff man reach in five innings but also rolled into four double plays during the game -- including three in the first five innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Sycamores will play the winner of the Southern Illinois and Bradley game Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
 
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