TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Keegan Watson connected on the game-clinching three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning and Simon Gregersen shut the door on the Iowa offense over the final three innings as Indiana State topped the Hawkeyes in the Terre Haute Regional final on Sunday evening at Bob Warn Field with the 11-8 victory.
 
The Sycamores (45-15) advanced to Sunday's title game following wins over Wright State and Iowa on the weekend and the ISU pitching staff was well-rested coming into the contest with just two pitchers utilized out the bullpen prior to the championship game. Iowa (44-16) was not as fortunate over the weekend as the Hawkeyes advanced to the evening's elimination game following a hard-fought 13-inning victory over North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
 
ISU's offense posted its second double-digit hit game of the weekend and the Sycamores took advantage of 16 free passes issued by the Iowa pitching staff (six walks, 10 HBPs) to load the bases in four different innings in the win. The Sycamores scored runs in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh frames to continually put pressure on the depleted Iowa pitching staff and held off Iowa rallies sparked by Brennen Dorighi, Brayden Frazier, and Blake Guerin home runs in the win.
 
Serving as the visiting team on Sunday night due to the NCAA postseason rules, the Sycamores held the 8-7 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning. ISU looked to add insurance late with Luis Hernandez sparking the rally after drawing a one-out walk. Pottinger followed by getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game bringing Watson to the plate. The Sycamore redshirt senior outfielder worked a full count against Iowa reliever Aaron Savary before connecting on his sixth home run of the season as the ball sailed into the trees beyond the left field wall setting off a celebration at Bob Warn Field and giving ISU the 11-7 lead.
 
Simon Gregersen (S, 2) was on point throughout a 3.1-inning relief appearance as the redshirt sophomore surrendered just a solo home run to Frazier while cooling off the Iowa offense late in the game. Gregesen struck out three Hawkeyes in the seventh and allowed just one runner on base over the final 10 hitters he faced in picking up his second save of the season.
 
Jacob Pruitt (2-1) took the win after going 1.0 inning in relief while striking out two. Lane Miller went the first 3.0 innings in the start allowing five hits and three runs (two earned), before turning the ball over to the Sycamore bullpen. Cam Edmonson, Pruitt, Cameron Holycross, and Gregersen went the rest of the way posting nine strikeouts over the final 6.0 innings in securing the win.
 
All nine Sycamores in the starting lineup either reached base, scored a run, or drove in a run as Indiana State's offense put together its most complete effort on the weekend. Mike Sears and Grant Magill both doubled in the win, while Randal Diaz, Luis Hernandez, and Miguel Rivera all had multi-hit games. Watson and Magill both had three RBIs apiece in the game, while Hernandez and Pottinger both scored three runs to pace Indiana State.
 
Cade Obermueller (2-1) took the loss in the contest as the Iowa reliever went 2.0 innings allowing two hits and four runs (three earned), while walking three and striking out two.
 
Raider Tello and Michael Seegers both had three hit games for the Hawkeyes, while Dorighi and Guerin both had multi-RBI games.
 
How They Scored

• Iowa took the early lead in the bottom of the first as Raider Tello singled home Michael Seegers to give the Hawkeyes the 1-0 advantage.
• The Sycamores evened the score in the top of the second as Seth Gergely connected on a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Keegan Watson to make it a 1-1 game.
• Miguel Rivera connected on the two-run single to right center scoring Luis Hernandez and Adam Pottinger in the bottom of the third to give Indiana State the 3-1 lead.
• Brennen Dorighi evened the game up at 3-3 with a two-run home run just in front of the scoreboard in right center bringing home Sam Petersen to tie the game up in the bottom of the third.
• Grant Magill doubled home Mike Sears in the top of the fourth inning to give Indiana State the 4-3 lead.
• Iowa plated three in the bottom of the fourth as the Hawkeyes took advantage of a pair of ISU errors in the frame to take the 6-4 lead. The Hawkeye rally was highlighted by Blake Guerin's two-run home run to left field, while Cade Moss scored on an ISU error in the frame.
• Indiana State plated two runs in the top of the fifth as Magill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while Sears scored on a fielder's choice to make it a 6-6 ballgame.
• ISU added two more runs in the top of the sixth as Luis Hernandez scored on a fielder's choice, while Adam Pottinger crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk issued to Magill to give Indiana State the 8-6 lead.
• Dorighi brought Iowa back within one in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to left field scoring Moss to cut the lead to 8-7.
• Keegan Watson provided the big blow in the top of the seventh inning as the redshirt senior connected on a three-run home run to left field scoring Hernandez and Pottinger to give the Sycamores the 11-7 lead.
• Brayden Frazier provided the final margin in the scorecard with a solo home run to left in the bottom of the seventh inning pulling Iowa back within 11-8. 

News & Notes                                                                                                                                    

• Indiana State improved to 45-15 overall on the season as the Sycamores closed out the Terre Haute Regional with a perfect 3-0 record.
• ISU also improves to 3-1 all-time against the Hawkeyes with the win and 2-1 in the 2023 season with the pair of victories this week at Bob Warn Field.
• Indiana State went 3-0 in regional play for just the second time in program history and first since 1986 when the Sycamores topped Michigan and Central Michigan (twice) on their way to advancing to the 1986 College World Series.
• ISU advances to the first Super Regional in program history with Sunday's win. The 1986 team went straight to the CWS following their regional victory.
• The Sycamores' 45 wins continues a new high in the Mitch Hannahs era. Indiana State also added its 22nd win at Bob Warn Field in 2023.
• Adam Pottinger ran his on-base streak to 36 consecutive games continuing the longest on-base streak in the Mitch Hannahs era. Pottinger went 1-for-3 on the day and was hit by a season-high three pitches in the Sycamore win.
• Indiana State was hit by 10 pitches overall in the contest with Pottinger (3), Hernandez (2), and Sears (2) all getting plunked multiple times on Sunday.
• The 10 hit-by-pitches tied an NCAA Division I postseason record for most HBP's in the same game.
• ISU's previous season high for HBPs was eight set last Friday at the Missouri Valley Championships against Evansville.
• Simon Gregersen went 3.1 innings tying his third-longest outing of the 2023 season. The Sycamore right-hander allowed one hit and one run while tying his season-high with six strikeouts.
• Jacob Pruitt picked up his second win of the season and first since April 11 against Purdue after getting the decision on Sunday evening.
• Indiana State improved to 11-0 in the 2023 on games that Lane Miller started on the mound.

Up Next
Indiana State heads to the 2023 Super Regionals and will face the winner of Arkansas and TCU next weekend.  
 
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