CHICAGO, Ill. – Indiana State split the Saturday doubleheader with UIC as the Sycamores topped the Flames in the opening contest, 13-7, before falling in the nightcap 4-2 at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium.
 
The Sycamores (13-14, 4-2) powered their way to the opening win behind homers from Carter Beck, Miguel Cantu, Jeremy Martinez, and Carlos Pena on their way to securing the series win over UIC (6-20, 2-4). The Saturday win marked Indiana State's 21st consecutive MVC series win dating back to the end of the 2022 season.
 
Game One: Indiana State 13, UIC 7
Carter Beck started the game off with a bang connecting on a solo home run and Miguel Cantu, Jeremy Martinez, and Carlos Pena also went deep as Indiana State secured the series win with the 13-7 victory in Saturday's opener.
 
The Sycamores connected on 17 hits in the contest highlighted by three-hit games from Cantu, Jackson Taylor, and Martinez as Indiana State pounded the ball in the opening game of the day against the UIC pitching staff. Zach Henderson and Nomar Garcia (two) added doubles in the Indiana State win.
 
Indiana State seized control of the game early thanks to Beck's leadoff solo home run and an error in the top of the third inning on Taylor's single to center field allowed three runs to score as the Sycamores went up 5-1.
 
UIC rallied back in the middle frames on AJ Taylor's two-run home run in the sixth, but Cantu and Martinez responded with two-run shots in the top of the seventh inning, and Pena added a solo home run in the eighth as the Sycamores secured the win against the Flames.
 
Ty Brooks (2-2) picked up the win as the freshman right-hander went 5.2 innings allowing six hits and four runs (three earned), while striking out four. Carson Seeman was effective with 2.1 shutout innings, while Zac Laird closed out the ninth in the conference win.
 
Luke Nowak had four of UIC's 10 hits in the opening game of the day, while Taylor drove in four RBIs to provide the offense for the Flames.
 
Brandon Bak (0-2) took the loss on the mound allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned), while striking out a pair. Kendall Lyons surrendered five runs and six hits in 3.1 innings of relief, while Zak Gould allowed two more runs over the final 2.1 innings on the mound.
 
How They Scored

• Carter Beck led off the game with a solo home run over the wall in right center to give Indiana State the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
• UIC answered in the bottom of the frame to tie it up at 1-1 as Luke Nowak scored on a Sycamore error.
• The Sycamores retook the lead in the top of the second inning as Andrew Ortiz crossed the plate on Nomar Garcia's RBI grounder to give Indiana State the 2-1 advantage.
• The Sycamores added to the lead in the top of the third as UIC misplayed Jackson Taylor's single to center field and the ball went all the way to the wall allowing Miguel Cantu, Andrew Ortiz, and Taylor to score, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
• It was 6-1 Sycamores after the top of the fourth as Garcia scored on Eli Gipson's RBI sacrifice fly.
• UIC took one back in the bottom of the fourth as Colin Husko scored on James Harris' sacrifice fly to cut the lead down to 6-2.
• Gipson connected on his second sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning as Jeremy Martinez tagged up and scored making it a 7-2 contest.
• AJ Taylor took two back for the Flames in the bottom of the sixth as the UIC shortstop connected on a two-run home run down the left field line scoring Lucas Smith to cut the Indiana State lead down to 7-4.
• Cantu and Martinez connected on a pair of two-run home runs in the top of the seventh inning with Cantu's shot bringing home Garis, while Taylor crossed on Martinez's home run to make it an 11-4 ballgame.
• Carlos Pena added a solo home run off the buildings beyond the right field wall in the top of the eighth stretching the lead to 12-4.
• The lead reached 13-4 as Martinez singled home Zach Henderson in the top of the ninth.
• UIC rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning with Smith's RBI double the big hit in the frame to provide the final 13-7 scoring margin. 

Game Two: UIC 4, Indiana State 2
Indiana State starting pitcher Breyllin Suriel (0-3) carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Flames' bats came to life late in the contest to secure the 4-2 win in the series finale.
 
James Harris broke the no-hit bid in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field, while UIC took advantage of Indiana State errors late in the contest in securing the final game of the series.
 
Carter Beck drove in Indiana State's first run of the game with an RBI double in the top of the third inning, but he was thrown out attempting to take third on the play to end the Sycamore rally early.
 
Suriel went 6.1 innings on the mound allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out a season-high nine batters, before running into trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
UIC took advantage of an errant throw on a double play ball allowing Colin Husko to score on the play to tie the game up at 2-2. Three batters later, AJ Taylor scored on a sacrifice fly giving the Flames the 3-2 lead.
 
The Flames added insurance late in the game on Terrick Thompson-Allen's sacrifice bunt bringing home Luke Nowak ahead of the throw to provide the final scoring margin.
 
Carter Beck, Keegan Garis, and Jeremy Martinez all connected on hits in the Sycamores' loss as Indiana State left 12 runners on base in the contest.
 
Colby Morse, Aaron Moss, Zac Laird, and Jack Armstrong all saw time in relief in the contest.
 
Tommy Egan (1-1) picked up the win for the Flames throwing 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the game.
 
How They Scored

• Indiana State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as Carter Beck connected on an RBI double to left center driving home Sean McGurk for the opening run of the contest.
• James Harris connected on UIC's first hit of the game with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at 1-1.
• The Sycamores retook the lead in the top of the seventh on Keegan Garis' RBI single to left center with Beck coming around to score on the play making it a 2-1 game.
• An Indiana State error in the bottom of the seventh led to Colin Husko touching the plate to tie the game up at 2-2.
• DJ Butler connected on the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly to left scoring AJ Taylor to give UIC the 3-2 lead.
• The Flames added insurance in the bottom of the eighth as Terrick Thompson-Allen dropped down a sacrifice bunt scoring Luke Nowak to provide the final 4-2 margin.

News & Notes

• Saturday's opening game marked the fifth time Indiana State had multiple home runs in the same inning as Miguel Cantu and Jeremy Martinez both connected on two-run shots in the top of the seventh inning.
• Breyllin Suriel worked a season-best 6.1 innings and posted a team-high nine strikeouts in the final game of the weekend series.
• Carlos Pena ran his on-base streak to 21 consecutive games after reaching base safely in both contests.

Up Next
Indiana State remains on the road next week as the Sycamores travel to Edwardsville, Ill. for a Tuesday evening contest at SIUE. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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