NORMAL, Ill. – Grant Magill and Randal Diaz homered early in support of Indiana State starter Luke Hayden, and the junior right-hander took it the rest of the way in a complete-game effort as the Sycamores topped host Illinois State in the Sunday series finale at Duffy Bass Field, 11-1.
 
Magill connected on a two-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the second inning and Diaz followed two batters later with a solo shot in front of the batter's eye in center to stake the Sycamores (29-8, 12-3) to an early 3-0 lead. Indiana State added five runs in the fifth with Joe Kido's two-run single the big hit in the frame, while Mike Sears added a two-run double in the sixth as the Sycamores scored early and often for the second consecutive game.
 
The early run support boosted Hayden (5-1) as the right-hander pitched around an unearned run in the bottom of the second in posting a career-high 11 strikeouts in his first complete game. Hayden pitched around runners on the bases throughout the contest, but allowed just one in scoring position after the third inning in a dominant performance. He finished allowing six hits and one walk in securing his fifth win of the year.
 
Magill posted three of Indiana State's 10 hits in the game, while Luis Hernandez added a two-hit contest as the Sycamores took advantage of 14 walks issued by the Illinois State (20-17, 8-7) pitching staff to constantly provide pressure in the contest. Indiana State loaded the bases in the first, third, fifth, and seventh innings with Sears and Magill both driving in three runs apiece in the win.
 
The Sycamores clinched their 15th consecutive Missouri Valley series win dating back to the end of the 2022 season with the Sunday victory as Indiana State rallied back from Friday's 4-3 loss to take the final two games against the Redbirds.
 
Luke Lawrence and Judah Morris had two hits apiece in the loss for the Redbirds with Morris' double to lead off the fourth the lone Illinois State extra-base hit.
 
Tanner Perry (4-5) took the loss allowing three hits and four runs while walking six over the first 2.0 innings. Matthew Donnison, Joe Husak, and Thomas Harper went the final four innings in the contest combining to allow seven hits while walking eight Sycamores.
 
How They Scored

• Grant Magill connected on a two-run home run over the left field wall and Randal Diaz hit a solo shot to center as Indiana State took the 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning against the Redbirds.
• Illinois State answered with a run in the bottom of the frame as Noah Rabin scored on a three-base error to cut the Sycamores' lead down to 3-1.
• Josue Urdaneta put Indiana State back in the scoring column with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Adam Pottinger in the top of the third to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
• ISU took advantage of Illinois State wildness on the mound to score five runs in the top of the fifth. The Sycamores sent 10 batters to the plate with Joe Kido providing the big hit in the frame with a two-run single, while Grant Magill (RBI single), Parker Stinson (RBI walk), and Mike Sears (RBI walk) also brought in runs in the frame.
• Sears added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning as the Sycamore third baseman hit a fly ball into the wind in left and it fell to the turf scoring Luis Hernandez and Stinson to provide the final 11-1 margin.

News & Notes

• Indiana State clinched their 15th consecutive Missouri Valley series win dating back to the end of the 2022 season. The Sycamores are 38-6-1 over the stretch after taking two of three from the Redbirds.
• The Sycamores improved to 14-0-1 in the MVC series finale over the same 15 series stretch with Sunday's win.
• ISU (60) added two more home runs to their 2024 total with Grant Magill (3) and Randal Diaz (9) both going deep on Sunday afternoon. It marked the sixth consecutive game with multiple home runs and 18th game overall this season.
• Josue Urdaneta ran his on-base streak to 26 consecutive games on Sunday afternoon as the second baseman singled to lead off the fifth inning. He went 1-for-4 from the plate with a run scored and a sacrifice fly.
• Luke Hayden became the second pitcher on the ISU staff to post a double-digit strikeout performance on the year joining Jacob Pruitt (11 vs. Marshall – Feb. 24, 11 at Southern Miss – Mar. 1).
• Hayden became ISU's second pitcher with a complete game to his name this year joining Brennyn Cutts who achieved the feat last weekend with a 7.0-inning complete game against Bradley (Apr. 13).
• Hayden lowered his ERA to 2.84 over 50.2 innings pitched on the season while taking over the team strikeout lead with 59 on the year. He's allowing opponents to hit just .238 from the plate.
• The Sycamore pitching staff held Illinois State to just 18 hits over 84 at-bats from the plate in the series posting a .214 opponent batting average over the 25 innings played. It marked the ninth consecutive game ISU has held an opponent to single digit hits.
• Indiana State's hitters drew 14 walks in Sunday afternoon's contest marking the most by the Sycamores since March 7, 2021, when ISU drew 14 in a 9-4 win over Florida International.
• Dominic Listi was hit by two pitches giving him a Valley-leading 19 on the year, while ISU has been hit 86 times as a team.

Up Next
Indiana State continues the seven-game road trip next weekend as the Sycamores travel to Carbondale, Ill. to take on Southern Illinois over April 26-28. First pitch in Friday's contest at Itchy Jones Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET. All three games will be broadcast on 105.5 The Legend, with Friday and Saturday also being streamed on ESPN+. Sunday's contest will be carried on ESPNU with a 7 p.m. ET first pitch.
 
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