TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –
Matt Jachec allowed just one runner to reach scoring position in a dominant display on the mound as Indiana State topped Illinois State on Friday night at Bob Warn Field in the MVC series opener, 2-0.
Jachec (3-2) retired 11 in a row from the second to the sixth inning and allowed just one runner to reach second base in his second complete game of the 2023 season. The redshirt junior was masterful in the first shutout of his collegiate career scattering five singles and posting six strikeouts in the effort.
Jachec allowed multiple runners in just one inning, but the ISU (16-12, 6-1 MVC) defense came through in the sixth inning to keep the Redbirds off the board.
Grant Magill threw out his 10th baserunner of the 2023 season, while
Mike Sears and
Keegan Watson both caught fly balls in foul territory to keep the shutout intact.
Randal Diaz provided all the run support Jachec would need with an RBI sacrifice fly scoring
Seth Gergely in the bottom of the first inning.
Miguel Rivera executed a safety squeeze bunt perfectly in the bottom of the eighth scoring
Josue Urdaneta to add insurance in the 2-0 win.
Jachec utilized 119 pitches in the complete game effort. Illinois State (10-14, 2-5 MVC) mounted one final rally with a two-out single in the top of the ninth to bring up the cleanup hitter. However, Adrian Flores' soft fly ball to center was corralled by a sliding
Seth Gergely for the final out to close out the complete game shutout.
Luis Hernandez extended his on-base streak to 21 consecutive games with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while Urdaneta added two hits as the Sycamores posted seven hits in the game. Urdaneta added a pair of stolen bases, while Diaz and Rivera recorded both of ISU's RBI.
Illinois State's Derek Salata (2-3) nearly matched Jachec pitch for pitch over the first six innings in taking the loss. The Redbirds' right-hander allowed four hits and one run while walking two and striking out six. Erik Kubiatowicz went 1.2 innings in relief allowing the second ISU run. Tyrelle Chadwick closed out the game on the mound getting the final Sycamore out.
How They Scored
- Randal Diaz connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to left field scoring Seth Gergely in the bottom of the first inning to give the Sycamores the early 1-0 lead.
- With runners on the corners in the bottom of the eighth inning, Miguel Rivera dropped down the one-out suicide squeeze bunt scoring Josue Urdaneta to provide the final 2-0 margin.
News & Notes
- Matt Jachec became the first ISU pitcher to post two complete games in the same season since Geremy Guerrero went the distance twice in the 2021 season (Valparaiso - Apr. 16, 2021, Illinois State – May 26, 2021).
- Jachec's first complete game of 2023 came back on March 10 at Memphis as the right-hander allowed four hits and one run in ISU's 5-1 win over the Tigers.
- Jachec's shutout win over the Redbirds was the first shutout of his Indiana State career coming in his 21st start in the Sycamore Blue & White.
- Jachec nearly completed the deal last season in the MVC Championships carrying a perfect game into the ninth against Valparaiso on March 25, 2022, before turning the ball over to the bullpen.
- Jachec has gone at least eight innings in three of his last four starts and has posted a 3-1 mark over the stretch.
- The Indiana State pitching staff has posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 2016 season. The last time the Sycamores achieved the feat came at the end of the 2016 season when ISU shut out Evansville in back-to-back games on May 20 & 21, 2016 by scores of 7-0 and 3-0.
- The Sycamore pitchers have gone 22.0 scoreless innings dating back to last Sunday at UIC (Apr. 3) after the Flames' leadoff hitter connected on a solo home run in the sixth inning.
- Mike Sears' career-best on-base streak came to an end after 23 consecutive games. It was ISU's seventh-longest stretch dating back to the 2011 season and dated back to February 25 against Northeastern.
- Luis Hernandez extended his on-base streak to 21 games following his single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth inning. He went 2-for-4 from the plate adding a single in the bottom of the eighth.
- Hernandez's two-hit game marked his 10th double-digit hit contest of the 2023 season.
- Josue Urdaneta added two more hits to his 2023 total for his 11th multi-hit game of the year.
- Urdaneta is on a season-best seven-game hitting streak with six multi-hit contests over the stretch. He's posted at least two hits in each of his last five games and posted RBI in four of the last five contests.
- Seth Gergely extended his on-base streak to 12 games after walking and singling in his first two at-bats of the game.
- Josue Urdaneta became the second ISU player to post a multi-steal game in the 2023 season with his two swipes of second on Friday night. Urdaneta's pair of steals marked his second and third thefts of 2023 and first since February 18 against Quinnipiac.
Matt Jachec Completes The Shutout
Up Next
Indiana State continues Missouri Valley play this weekend as the Sycamores take on the Redbirds in game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed live on 105.5 The Legend.
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