TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Randall Diaz broke the game wide open with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and Matt Jachec went seven strong innings as Indiana State topped Memphis in the series opener at Bob Warn Field, 12-0.
 
Jachec (5-1) recorded his third consecutive quality start on the mound as the right-hander went seven innings allowing four hits while striking out six in the win. The redshirt sophomore did not allow a hit after the second inning and pitched around a season-high three walks to keep the Tigers off the board before turning the ball over to the bullpen late.
 
Diaz homered in the bottom of the fifth as the Sycamores (12-7) utilized a four-run frame to break the game open against Memphis starter Dalton Kendrick (2-1). Indiana State added two more runs in the sixth inning, before a six-run eighth frame put the game away.
 
Jordan Schaffer (3-for-4, 3B, 3 RBI) and Seth Gergely (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) both paced the Indiana State offense on the afternoon, while Diaz added four RBI to go with his second home run of the 2022 season. Sean Ross added two hits in the contest as the Sycamores posted their 12th double-digit hits game of the season.
 
Luke Patzner and Matt Gauer closed out the final two innings out of the bullpen for Indiana State. Patzner posted a perfect frame with a pair of strikeouts, while Gauer pitched around a walk, striking out one in the ninth.
 
The Sycamores pitching staff limited Memphis (12-7) to just four singles in the game at the plate.
 
Kendrick took the loss on the mound after going the first five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out six. Daniel Casto, Chase Kessinger, Hudson Ross, and Jackson Lyons all saw time on the mound for the Tigers on Friday.
 
How They Scored

• Jordan Schaffer connected on a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth and Randall Diaz followed with a two-run home run as the Sycamores broke a scoreless tie to go up 4-0 after the midway point of the contest.
• ISU added two more runs in the sixth as Grant Magill's sacrifice fly brought home Luis Hernandez, while Seth Gergely doubled home Sean Ross to run the score to 6-0.
• The Sycamores took advantage of a pair of Memphis errors to score six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with Diaz's double to the left centerfield wall scoring two to give ISU the 12-0 lead.

News & Notes

• Matt Jachec posted his third quality start in a row and fourth of the 2022 season in the Sycamores win on Friday afternoon. It marked his third consecutive game going at least seven innings and sixth time this season he's thrown at least five.
• Jachec leads the Missouri Valley in innings pitched on the year with 41.0, while he dropped his ERA down to 1.98 following his scoreless outing on Friday.
• Randall Diaz became the sixth Sycamore to post multiple home runs in the 2022 season as the freshman third baseman connected on the two-run shot in the fifth inning.
• Jordan Schaffer became the fifth Sycamore to connect on a triple this season as the redshirt senior connected on the three-bagger in the bottom of the fifth inning.
• Seth Gergely ran his team-leading hitting streak to eight games on Friday as the center fielder went 3-for-4 and reached on all four plate appearances.
• Jordan Schaffer recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season with his 3-for-4 game.
• Gergely posted his third multi-hit game of the year.
• Randall Diaz added his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
• Josue Urdaneta's hitting streak and on-base streak ended at 18 games as the redshirt sophomore was held off the base paths in a 0-for-4 outing on Friday afternoon.
• Luis Hernandez became the second Indiana State player to get hit multiple times in the same game joining Jordan Schaffer who was plunked three times against Ohio State earlier this year.
• Indiana State improves to 5-6 all-time in the series against Memphis with the win.

Up Next
Indiana State continues the weekend series tomorrow afternoon for game two between the Sycamores and the Tigers. First pitch at Bob Warn Field is set for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.
 
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