CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State scored four runs in the top of the first inning and kept building on the lead as the Sycamores claimed the Sunday victory and the Missouri Valley series win over Southern Illinois with the 14-3 win over the Salukis at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Nick Sutherlin connected on a two-run single to put Indiana State (26-21, 12-6) ahead early and
Weston Fulk added a two-run double down the left field line to stake the Sycamores to a 4-0 lead. Sutherlin and Fulk added to the lead with RBI in the top of the third inning and
Colin Sander and
Carter Beck made it an 8-0 game with back-to-back RBI singles to give Indiana State a commanding lead.
The Sycamore defense was the star of the show against Southern Illinois (18-28, 9-9) as Indiana State turned two double plays in the first two innings en route to setting a new school record with five double plays in the contest.
Carson Seeman (7-0) shut down the SIU offense as Southern Illinois threatened with the bases loaded and none out in the third inning, retiring two batters on strikes around a fly ball to left field to keep it an 8-0 game.
After SIU battled back to an 8-3 contest in the sixth inning highlighted by Kristian Spawling's two-run home run and a Gabe Petrucelli RBI single,
Caden Miller swung the advantage back to the Sycamores with his seventh home run of the season. Indiana State put the game away in the top of the ninth as the Sycamores' first six batters reached base in a five-run inning to secure the 14-3 series finale win.
All nine Sycamores reached base in the contest, eight Indiana State players recorded hits, and seven Sycamores either drove in an RBI or scored a run in a dominant offensive showing on Sunday afternoon.
Nick Sutherlin and
Weston Fulk both finished with three-hit games and drove in three RBIs, while
Mason Roell, Sutherlin, and
Caden Miller all scored three times in the win.
Carson Seeman picked up his fourth win in Missouri Valley play on Sunday afternoon as the senior right-hander worked 3.0 innings allowing two hits and two runs while striking out five in an extended relief effort.
Spencer Johnson worked 2.0 shutout innings in the start allowing five hits while striking out one.
Colby Morse,
Hunter Small,
Jack Armstrong, and
Owen Roberts each worked 1.0 innings apiece in closing out the Sycamore win.
How They Scored
- Indiana State took the early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Nick Sutherlin (two-run single) and Weston Fulk (two-run double) both drove in runs in the opening rally.
- The Sycamores added to the lead with four more runs in the third inning with Nick Sutherlin (RBI double), Weston Fulk (RBI single), Colin Sander (RBI single), and Carter Beck (RBI single) putting Indiana State ahead 8-0.
- Kristian Sprawling put SIU on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run over the left field wall to cut the lead to 8-2.
- SIU made it an 8-3 ballgame in the bottom of the sixth as Gabe Petrucelli singled in Kye Watson.
- Caden Miller swung the momentum back to the Sycamores in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over the left field wall to put Indiana State ahead 9-3.
- The Sycamores sent 11 batters to the plate with five different hitters bringing in run in the frame to provide the final 14-3 scoring margin. Caden Miller sparked the stretch with an RBI single through the left side, while Caleb Niehaus (RBI walk), Nomar Garcia (RBI single), Colin Sander (RBI sacrifice fly), and Carter Beck (single) all driving in runs in the frame.
News and Notes
- Carter Beck extended his on-base streak to 31 consecutive games following his 2-for-5 day at the plate with an RBI and a walk.
- Caden Miller extended his on-base streak to 26 consecutive games after going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Caden Miller connected on his seventh home run of the 2026 season in Sunday's game and first since connecting on a two-run shot on April 17 at Wright State.
- Carson Seeman recorded his team-leading seventh win on the mound on Sunday afternoon after going 3.0 innings in relief.
- Carson Seeman's seven wins mark the most by a Sycamore since Brennyn Cutts and Luke Hayden both recorded seven victories in the 2024 season.
- Carson Seeman's five strikeouts tied his career mark with the Sycamores, equaling the five strikeouts he recorded against Pacific last year on March 15, 2025.
- The Indiana State defense turned five double plays, setting a new Sycamore record for double plays made in a single game. The previous mark of four was tied six times, last at Purdue on April 9, 2013.
- Indiana State's win on Sunday afternoon at Southern Illinois clinched the Sycamores fourth consecutive series win over the Salukis dating back to 2023.
- Indiana State claimed its sixth consecutive Missouri Valley series win with Sunday's victory, marking the third time in the last four seasons the Sycamores opened conference play winning their first six conference series.
Up Next
Indiana State returns home to Bob Warn Field for a Tuesday night contest against Western Illinois. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
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