TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Gonzaga connected on three home runs in a five-run fourth inning and Indiana State's late rally behind Ryan Karst and Emil Estrella was not enough to put the Sycamores back in the game in falling 7-4 in the Friday night series opener at Bob Warn Field.
 
The Sycamores (7-10) trailed 7-0 after the first 3.5 innings before the offense started to get into the flow of the game against Bulldog (5-11) starter Erik Hoffberg (2-2). Emil Estrella led off the bottom of the fourth getting hit by a pitch and Carter Beck followed with a double to left center as the Sycamores threatened. Caden Miller connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to push the first Indiana State run on the scoreboard.
 
Indiana State again utilized the double in the sixth inning as Eddie Alonso connected on a leadoff two-base hit inside the third base bag and down the line and Nick Sutherlin singled him home as the Sycamores continued to chip away at the lead.
 
Ryan Karst turned in the best performance of his Indiana State career coming in relief in the fifth inning and limited Gonzaga to just one hit and one walk while striking out four to keep the Sycamores in the game. Karst retired the first nine batters he faced and induced a ground ball double play in the eighth inning, before turning the ball over to Colby Morse in the ninth. Morse worked a shutout frame pitching the Sycamores out of a bases-loaded jam to keep it a 7-2 contest.
 
Indiana State rallied with two outs against Gonzaga reliever Garrett Gores as Eddie Alonso worked a full-count walk, before Emil Estrella launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to cut the deficit down to 7-4. That was as close as the Sycamores could get the rest of the way as Gores retired Carter Beck for the final out to secure the win.
 
Weston Fulk had two of Indiana State's eight hits in the contest and added a line drive double off the left field wall to pace the Sycamores. Emil Estrella drove in two RBIs and scored two runs, while Eddie Alonso added a pair of runs scored.
 
Jack Armstrong (2-1) took the loss on the mound as the Sycamore starting pitcher went 4.0 innings allowing eight hits and seven runs (six earned), while striking out two.
 
Bo Shinkle led the Gonzaga offense with a three-hit outing, including a double and two stolen bases. Noah Meffert, Hudson Shupe, and Ricky Sanchez all homered in the win.
 
Erik Hoffberg recorded his second win of the season going 7.0 innings allowing six hits and two runs while striking out seven. Gores worked the final 2.0 innings allowing two hits and two runs while walking three.
 
How They Scored

• Ryder Young put Gonzaga on the board in the top of the first inning as Emil Estrella misplayed his fly ball to right field, allowing Bo Shinkle to score on the play and make it a 1-0 game.
• Gonzaga made it 2-0 in the top of the second as Bo Shinkle singled home Hudson Shupe to double the Bulldog lead.
• Gonzaga plated five runs in the top of the fourth inning as Hudson Shupe and Ricky Sanchez connected on back-to-back solo home runs to right field, before Noah Meffert added a three-run shot to left center to stretch the advantage to 7-0.
• Indiana State took one back in the bottom of the fourth as Caden Miller connected on a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Emil Estrella to make it a 7-1 game.
• Nick Sutherlin helped the Sycamores capitalize on an Eddie Alonso leadoff double by connecting on an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the sixth to cut the score to 7-2.
• Emil Estrella put the final two runs on the board in the bottom of the ninth as the senior right fielder connected on a two-run shot over the left field wall scoring Eddie Alonso to provide the final 7-4 scoring margin. 

News and Notes

• Caden Miller ran his on-base streak to eight consecutive games after drawing a pair of walks in Friday night's game. The first baseman added an RBI on a sacrifice fly marking the seventh game in the last eight that he's driven in at least one run.
• Emil Estrella connected on his team-leading third home run of the 2026 season in the ninth inning.
• Weston Fulk recorded his fourth multi-hit game of his career and first since he went 4-for-5 last season against Illinois State on May 16, 2025.
• Ryan Karst worked a career-high 4.0 innings in relief on the mound and set a new personal-high with four strikeouts in the contest.
• Indiana State recorded four extra-base hits, including three doubles in the contest, extending their streak to 17 consecutive games with a double and nine consecutive games with multiple two-baggers.

Up Next
Indiana State hosts Gonzaga in the second game of the weekend series with first pitch in Saturday's contest is set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be carried on 105.5 The Legend.
 
Indiana State Baseball Season Tickets on Sale Now
Season tickets for the 2026 Indiana State baseball season are now on sale as the Sycamores head into their second season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. The Sycamores will play 21 home games inside Bob Warn Field this season, starting on March 4 against Lindenwood.
 
Reserved chairback season tickets can be purchased for $110. General admission season tickets will go on sale as well with adult ($75), seniors ($55), and youth ($40) tickets also being available for purchase. There will be a $5 surcharge added to those wanting tickets printed.
 
The Sycamores have teamed up with Pacesetter Sports and the Spirit Shop for the third consecutive season for a season ticket deal. Fans will receive a $50 Pacesetter gift card for each $110 reserved chairback season ticket, $35 gift card for each $75 general admission season ticket, $25 gift card for each $55 senior general admission ticket, and $20 gift card for each $40 youth season ticket sold.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.