TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State continues its road trip this weekend with a three-game series at Valparaiso University and Emory G. Bauer Field as the Sycamores continue Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
First pitch in Saturday's opener is set for 2 p.m. ET, while Sunday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch. All three games in the series will be carried live on ESPN3 and on 105.5 The Legend, while live stats will be provided on ValpoAthletics.com.
 
Weather Adjusts Weekend Schedule
Indiana State and Valparaiso made the announcement about the schedule change leading up to the weekend. The Sycamores and Beacons have pushed the series back to Saturday and Sunday due to the threat of increment weather on Friday. The series adjustment marks the fourth time Indiana State has seen a series or game adjusted in the 2022 season.
 
Purdue Recap
Indiana State scored eight unanswered runs after the sixth inning, including four in the go-ahead 10th frame, as the Sycamores topped host Purdue on Wednesday evening at Alexander Field, 10-6. Seth Gergely connected on the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 10th inning as the Sycamores sent nine batters to the plate in the decisive frame. Jordan Schaffer and Sean Ross added RBI singles in the inning as Indiana State picked up its fourth consecutive win over the Boilermakers.
 
The Sycamores trailed 5-0 through the first two innings before fighting their way back into the contest. Sean Ross sparked the rally with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Purdue lead down to one run, while Grant Magill evened the score at 6-6 with a sacrifice fly in the top of eighth to set the stage for the Sycamores' 10th inning.
 
Joey Hurth went two shutout innings in picking up his fourth win of the 2022 season. The redshirt sophomore pitched around a single in the ninth and hurled a perfect 10th in taking the midweek win. Connor Fenlong added a strong three innings in shutout relief to keep the Sycamores within striking distance in the contest.
 
Seven Indiana State players posted multi-hit games in the win, while Seth Gergely and Tyler Nelson both tripled to highlight the Sycamores at the plate. The Sycamores improved to 4-3 against Big Ten members in 2022 following the win.
 
Scouting Valparaiso
Valparaiso enters the weekend with a 11-13 record as the Beacons wrapped up a majority of the non-conference schedule heading into the week. Valpo took on Milwaukee in a midweek series prior to the weekend with the Beacons falling in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader to the Panthers. The Beacons picked up series wins over Alabama A&M, Omaha, UIC, and St. Bonaventure, while splitting a four-game series with Murray State to highlight their season. Valpo dropped series to Memphis and SEMO, as well as a midweek contest to Notre Dame.
 
Valparaiso was selected eighth overall in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as picked by the conference's head coaches. The Beacons received 15 points overall in the poll after finishing 16-35 overall. Valparaiso returned eight position starters and nine key pitchers from the 2021 team that highlighted their year by winning two games in the MVC Tournament for the first time since joining the league.
 
Headlining the Valparaiso team heading into the 2022 season was the return of reigning MVC Freshman of the Year Kaleb Hannahs. Hannahs, son of ISU skipper Mitch Hannahs, earned Collegiate Baseball Newcomer Freshman All-American honors and All-MVC Second Team recognition after leading Valpo in batting average.
 
Alex Thurston and Kyle Schmack have been the hottest hitters at the plate for the Beacons this season heading into the weekend series. Thurston paces the way with a .365 batting average with five doubles and a triple over his 31 hits. Schmack has a .360 average with a team-high 18 RBI on the year, as well as leading the team with eight stolen bases. Overall, Valpo is hitting .266 as a team with 13 home runs on the year.
 
ON the mound, Colin Fields has been the ace of the staff with a 3.03 ERA over his seven starts. He boasts a 4-0 record overall with a 65:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Trent Turzenski (3-4, 6.34 ERA) also boasts seven starts to his name on the year with a team-leading 38.1 innings pitched. Reliever Bobby Nowak (0-1, 4.82 ERA) paces the Beacons with six saves over his 10 appearances. The Valpo pitching staff has posted a 5.88 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .286 against the Beacons this season.
 
Beacons Top Player
Valparaiso's player to watch coming into the season was sophomore infielder Kaleb Hannahs and the West Terre Haute native has delivered. Hannahs is tied for the team lead with four home runs, while his eight doubles paces Valpo on the year. Additionally, he is the team leader with 24 runs scored and has been adept on the base paths with six steals.
 
Opponent History
Indiana State holds the 49-29-1 all-time record against Valparaiso dating back to the series opener back on April 17, 1948. The Sycamores are 10-0 against the Beacons since Valpo joined the Missouri Valley Conference back prior to the 2018 season. The Sycamores last made the trip to Emory G. Bauer Field in 2018 with Indiana State taking all three contests. Indiana State has won the last 15 games in the series dating back to the 2007 season. Valpo leads the series in Valparaiso with a 10-7-1 mark against the Sycamores at home.
 
Last Time against Valparaiso
Indiana State swept the season series against the Beacons last season with the Sycamores taking all four contests against Valparaiso over the April 16-18 weekend at Bob Warn Field. The Sycamores picked up the series-opening 5-0 win on Friday, before taking both games in Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 11-2 and 6-2. ISU followed up with the Sunday sweep with a 12-1 win. Aaron Beck hit an incredible .857 (12-of-14, 3 2Bs, 9 RBI) over the four-game series, while Jordan Schaffer (.385) and Josue Urdaneta (.333) also stood out at the plate over the weekend.
 
Against the MVC this season
Indiana State is 2-1 against the Missouri Valley this season following their series win over Illinois State this past weekend. Valparaiso opens Valley play this weekend with the three-game series against the Sycamores at home.
 
Non-Conference Round-Up
Indiana State has posted a 14-7 overall record in non-conference play heading into the weekend's contests against Valparaiso. The Sycamores have posted a 6-3 record in neutral site contests and a 6-1 home mark at Bob Warn Field this season, while sitting 2-3 in true road games. Highlighting Indiana State's non-conference schedule includes wins over BYU, Marshall, Merrimack, Minnesota (twice), Michigan, Wright State, SEMO (twice), Kansas (twice), Memphis (twice), and Purdue.

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