TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Dominic Listi connected on the game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and Adam Pottinger drove in the game-winning RBI with a single in the same frame as Indiana State rallied back to take the Friday opener against Evansville at Bob Warn Field, 5-4.
 
The Sycamores (35-10, 18-4) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning as Evansville (28-22, 14-8) took advantage of uncharacteristic wildness from the ISU pitching staff to plate three runs in the fifth. Cal McGinnis connected on an RBI single in the top of the eighth to put the Purple Aces ahead following a strong performance from UE starting pitcher Kenton Deverman.
 
The momentum quickly shifted back to ISU in the bottom of the frame as Randal Diaz worked a leadoff walk against UE reliever Shane Harris (5-6) to bring the tying run to the plate. Harris jumped ahead of Listi and took the early 0-2 count, before the Sycamore left fielder drove an inside fastball into the trees beyond the right field wall to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The late-inning rally continued as Luis Hernandez connected on a hard-hit single through the left side of the infield and an Evansville error on a fielder's choice put two on with none out in the frame. Two batters later, Pottinger drove a line drive single into right field allowing Hernandez to score from second base and giving the Sycamores a 5-4 lead.
 
Jacob Pruitt (3-2) faced the top of the Evansville lineup in the top of the ninth inning and pitched around a one-out walk to strike out the final two batters of the game to secure his third win of the season.
 
Grant Magill put Indiana State ahead early with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to highlight a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, while Diaz doubled twice among his three hits on the day as the Sycamores connected on 10 hits as a team in the win.
 
Pruitt went the final 3.0 innings in the contest as the sophomore right-hander allowed four hits and one run while striking out five in the game. Jared Spencer went the first 4.1 innings in the start allowing one hit and three runs while walking four and striking out five. Cam Edmonson worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to bridge the gap in the middle innings.
 
Mark Shallenberger had two of Evansville's six hits in the contest and Shallenberger and Brent Widder both doubled to highlight the Purple Aces at the plate.
 
Deverman worked 7.0 innings in the quality start on the mound for UE. The freshman left-hander allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out six before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Harris worked 0.1 innings allowing three hits and three runs (two earned), while Jakob Meyer retired the final two outs for UE.
 
How They Scored

• Indiana State took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning as Grant Magill connected on a solo home run over the left field wall to put the Sycamores ahead.
• Evansville took advantage Sycamore wildness on the mound in the fifth to score three runs as the Aces drew five walks and were hit by a pitch to take the 3-1 lead.
• Indiana State took one back in the bottom of the fifth as Randal Diaz singled home Magill to cut the UE lead down to 3-2.
• Cal McGinnis extended Evansville's lead in the top of the eighth inning with an RBI single driving in Brent Widder to put the Aces ahead 4-2.
• Dominic Listi tied the game up with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and Adam Pottinger gave the Sycamores the lead with an RBI single scoring Luis Hernandez to put Indiana State ahead 5-4.

 
News & Notes

• Randal Diaz extended his hitting streak to 18 consecutive games and on-base streak to 24 games following his leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning in the bottom of the second inning. He finished the day 3-for-3 with two doubles, a run, an RBI, and a walk.
• Josue Urdaneta extended his on-base streak to 34 consecutive games after connecting on a single in the bottom of the fifth. He finished the day 1-for-3 from the plate.
• Parker Stinson saw his 23-game on-base streak come to an end on Friday afternoon. The senior right fielder finished the day 0-for-4 from the plate to end the longest on-base streak of his career.
• Adam Pottinger extended his on-base streak to 17 consecutive games on Friday following his RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
• Indiana State improved to 15-1 at Bob Warn Field in the 2024 season with Friday afternoon's win over the Aces.
• The Sycamores are 44-7-1 over their last 52 Missouri Valley conference games.
• Magill connected on his sixth home run of the season in the third inning.
• Listi connected on his third home run of the year in the eighth inning.
• Randal Diaz's two-double day marked his fourth game of the 2024 season with two or more doubles and first since doubling twice on April 14 against Bradley. He connected on a career-high three doubles in the same game back on March 15 against Xavier.
• Jacob Pruitt recorded his second win in as many appearances as the sophomore right-hander was the pitcher of record on Friday afternoon. He also recorded the win last weekend in the opener against Belmont going 3.2 innings in relief in ISU's 15-5 win over the Bruins.

Up Next
Indiana State continues the weekend series on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores take on the Purple Aces with a 2 p.m. ET first pitch at Bob Warn Field. The game is set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Saturday's game day festivities includes Nine Innings of Winning at Bob Warn Field with fans able to win prizes throughout the contest.
 
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