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Indiana State University Athletics

Diaz
2
Indiana State INS 29-9, 12-4 MVC
3
Winner Southern Illinois SIU 25-17, 9-7 MVC
Indiana State INS
29-9, 12-4 MVC
2
Final
3
Southern Illinois SIU
25-17, 9-7 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Indiana State INS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 1
Southern Illinois SIU 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 X 3 8 0

W: Easton Dermody (4-1) L: Pruitt, Jacob (1-1) S: Anthony Pron (8)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Seth Montgomery | GoSycamores.com

Indiana State drops Friday series opener at Southern Illinois

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State was unable to string together hits at the right time on Friday evening as the Sycamores fell in the weekend series opener at Southern Illinois, falling 3-2, at Itchy Jones Stadium.
 
Weekend Schedule Update: Due to expected inclement weather in the Carbondale area on Sunday afternoon, the series finale against Southern Illinois has been moved to a 5:30 p.m. ET first pitch. The game at Itchy Jones Stadium will still be carried live on ESPNU.
 
Randal Diaz homered in the top of the eighth inning to cut SIU's (25-17, 9-7) lead down to 3-2 and Parker Stinson put Indiana State's (29-9, 12-4) tying run on the base paths, but SIU's Anthony Pron (S, 8) was able to get out of the jam getting a line drive out to end the ISU threat in the eighth.
 
The Sycamores mounted one final comeback in the top of the ninth inning as Joe Kido was hit by a pitch with one out. However, Grant Magill's hard grounder back up the middle found Pron's glove to start the game-ending double play as the Sycamores dropped their road series opener in conference play for the third time in the 2024 season.
 
Southern Illinois took the early lead on Hesston Gray's RBI double and added a Cole Christman RBI grounder and a run on an Indiana State error to secure the Friday win. Mike Sears connected on an RBI double scoring Parker Stinson, while Diaz homered to provide Indiana State's two runs in the loss.
 
The Sycamores had their chances throughout the contest putting runners on base in all but two innings on the day, but Southern Illinois' defense was up to the task. ISU looked to break the game open in the fourth putting two on with one out, but Joe Kido's line drive found the glove of SIU pitcher Mike Hansell to start an inning-ending double play.
 
Stinson went 3-for-3 and reached base safely in all four plate appearances to pace an Indiana State offense that connected on seven hits on Friday night. Sears added his ninth double of the season, while Diaz connected on home run No. 10 for the Sycamores.
 
Jared Spencer went the first 4.1 innings in the Friday start allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three. Jacob Pruitt (1-1) went 1.2 innings allowing three hits and an unearned run, while Cam Edmonson went the final 2.0 innings on the mound.
 
Mathieu Vallee and Ryan Birr finished with two hits apiece to highlight Southern Illinois' eight hits in the contest. Gray connected on the Salukis' lone extra-base hit with a double in the first inning.
 
Mike Hansall went the first 4.1 innings in the start for the Salukis allowing five hits and a run while striking out one. Easton Dermody (4-1) went 3.1 innings allowing two hits and a run to claim the victory, while Pron went the final 1.1 innings in the save.
 
How They Scored
  • Southern Illinois took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Hesston Gray's RBI double down the left field line scoring Mathieu Vallee.
  • Indiana State evened the game up in the top of the second inning as Mike Sears connected on an RBI double down the left field line scoring Parker Stinson to tie it up at 1-1.
  • SIU retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on Cole Christman's RBI grounder scoring Ryan Birr as the soft ground ball was too slow for the Sycamores to attempt an inning-ending double play.
  • The Salukis made it 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh as Jake Allgeyer scored on an errant ISU throw on a double-play ball to provide insurance.
  • Randal Diaz cut the deficit down to 3-2 in the top of the eighth with a line drive solo home run to left field off the production trailer to provide the final margin.
News & Notes
  • Indiana State moves to 38-7-1 in Missouri Valley play dating back to the end of the 2022 season following Friday's loss to the Salukis.
  • All seven of ISU's losses in Valley play, including all four in the 2024 season have come in the series opening contest.
  • All four of Indiana State's Missouri Valley losses this season have been in one-run ball games including tonight's opener against the Salukis.
  • Randal Diaz's solo home run in the eighth inning made him the fourth Sycamore to reach double-digit home runs in the 2024 season joining Mike Sears (15), Parker Stinson (11), and Luis Hernandez (11).
  • It marked the first time four Sycamores hit 10 or more home runs in the same season since 1987 when Boi Rodriguez (12), Danny Roman (11), Jeff Buell (10), and Jamie Allison (10) all reached double-digits.
Up Next
Indiana State continues the weekend series at Southern Illinois on Saturday night with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
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