TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State's offense exploded for six runs in the game-deciding bottom of the seventh inning as the Sycamores held off visiting Illinois on Tuesday afternoon at Bob Warn Field with the 7-6 win.
 
The Sycamores (12-3) sent 11 batters to the plate with the first six reaching base safely and scoring in the decisive frame as Indiana State rallied back against the Illinois (5-10) bullpen in the contest. Grant Magill provided the first spark of the inning following Josue Urdaneta's leadoff walk with a two-run home run over the wall in centerfield to cut the Illinois lead down to 6-3.
 
Randal Diaz connected on a line drive double down the left field line against UI reliever Will Lavin (0-1). Following a wild pitch, Dominic Listi brought home Diaz with a soft single to left field cutting the deficit down to 6-4. Luis Hernandez followed with a sharp single back up the middle setting the stage for Mike Sears, and the senior third baseman delivered with his team-leading sixth home run of the season giving ISU the lead for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Zach Davidson and Simon Gregersen (S, 1) worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings for the Sycamore bullpen in the game to help ISU secure its third consecutive win in the series against Illinois and seventh consecutive win over the Fighting Illini at Bob Warn Field dating back to the 2006 season.
 
Illinois built the early 6-1 lead thanks in part to Camden Janik's solo home run in the first and Brody Harding's three-run home run in the fourth. The Fighting Illini offense came in support of UI starter Cooper Omans who went 6.0 innings scattering three hits and an unearned run, while walking two and striking out 10.
 
Diaz, Listi, and Hernandez all posted multi-hit games on Tuesday afternoon with Listi posting his first multi-RBI game of the season. Urdaneta added a double and two runs scored, while Sears (3) and Magill (2) both drove in multiple runs.
 
Adam Berghorst went the first 2.0 innings allowing three hits and a run in his first start as a Sycamore. Jared Spencer added a 3.0-inning relief stint allowing two hits and four runs while striking out four. Jacob Spencer (1-0) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings allowing just a Janik single in the top of the seventh while striking out one in his first victory.
 
Davidson worked a scoreless eighth frame and picked up the first out in the ninth, before turning the ball over to Gregersen. The junior right-hander retired the final two Illinois batters getting Cal Hejza to swing at strike three to end the game for his first save of the year.
 
Lavin took the loss for UI allowing four hits and four runs without recording an out. Jake Rons allowed both batters he faced to score to open the seventh, while Regan Hall worked the final 2.0 innings allowing three hits to close out the game.
 
Coltin Quagliano paced Illinois with a three-hit game including a double, while Cameron Chee-Aloy added a double in the loss.
 
How They Scored

• Illinois took the early 1-0 lead on Camden Janik's two-out, solo home run over the left center wall to put the Fighting Illini ahead in the top of the first inning.
• Brody Harding made it 4-0 Illinois in the top of the fourth inning driving in Vytas Valincius and Coltin Quagliano with a two-out, three-run home run over the right field wall off ISU reliever Jared Spencer.
• Dominic Listi put the Sycamores on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning following up Josue Urdaneta's leadoff double with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to cut the deficit down to 4-1.
• Illinois added two more runs in the top of the sixth as Valincius connected on a two-run single past a drawn in ISU infield scoring Drake Westcott and Quagliano to make it 6-1 in favor of the guests.
• The Sycamores' first six batters in the bottom of the seventh inning scored with Grant Magill (two-run) and Mike Sears (three-run) both connecting on home runs as Indiana State exploded for six runs to take the 7-6 lead in frame. Overall, the Sycamores recorded seven hits and sent 11 batters to the plate in the game-deciding frame. 

News & Notes

• Luis Hernandez continued his 14-game hitting streak on Tuesday afternoon with a pair of singles on the day.
• Dominic Listi has reached base safely in all 15 games in 2024 connecting on a pair of singles and adding a hit-by-pitch in the win.
• Mike Sears has connected on a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh for his team-leading sixth home run of the season.
• Each of Mike Sears' last six hits have left the ballpark dating back to his three-run shot against Vanderbilt on February 27.
• Simon Gregersen becomes the fifth Indiana State pitcher to record a save in the 2024 season.
• Jacob Spencer becomes the ninth ISU pitcher to record a win in the 2024 season.
• Grant Magill homered for the first time in 2024 and first since connecting on a two-run shot at UIC last season on March 31, 2023.
• Indiana State has won the last three contests against Illinois and seven consecutive home games against the Fighting Illini dating back to the 2006 season. 

Up Next
Indiana State is back on the road this weekend as the Sycamores travel to Cincinnati, Ohio and Xavier University for a three-game series at Hayden Field. First pitch in Friday's opener is set for 3 p.m. ET. The entire weekend series is scheduled to be broadcast live via FloBaseball.
 
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