February 23, 2019

By Tim McCaughan

Indiana State Athletics

Sycamores Shut Down Marshall to Improve to 5-0

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Indiana State pitching continued its dominance Saturday morning against Marshall in game two of the Hughes Brothers Challenge. The Thundering Herd were limited to just four hits in the contest as the Sycamores picked up the 4-1 victory to remain perfect on the season at 5-0.

Greensburg, Pennsylvania native Collin Liberatore (1-0) was outstanding in his second start of the season for the Sycamores. The right-hander allowed just one run and four hits in six complete innings en route to the win. He struck out five batters in the start.

More impressive was Liberatore’s ability to shake a slow start in which Marshall collected four hits in the first two innings, including back-to-back doubles in the second to take an early lead. Liberatore settled in and retired 10-straight MU hitters before an error allowed a Marshall baserunner in the sixth inning.

Again, the bullpen was stout for Indiana State as Tyler Ward pitched the final three innings of the game to pick up his first save of 2019. Ward retired all nine batters he faced while striking out four, including two of the final three he faced.

Indiana State put a runner on base in each of the first two innings but it wasn’t until the third that the Trees answered Marshall’s run. Junior Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) got the offense going with a leadoff double and would eventually end up at third base with the bases loaded after Luke Fegen earned a walk and Romero Harris was pitched around to load the bases. Joe Boyle would plate the game-tying run after drawing the third walk of the inning, but the inning would end prematurely with a pickoff at first.

Marshall got out of another bases loaded jam in the fourth but the Sycamores were able to push across the go-ahead run in the fifth inning of play when Jarrod Watkins grounded out to shortstop, scoring Harris, who singled to right to start the inning.

Following a call to the bullpen for the Herd, Indiana State tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh inning when Watkins and Jake Means tallied back-to-back singles to open the inning. A throwing error would allow the duo to each move up a base. Watkins would make it a two-run game after coming home on a wild pitch before pinch-hitter Hunter Lewis continued his hot streak with an RBI double to right center to make it 4-1.

Indiana State outhit Marshall 10-4 in the game, but did leave 12 runners on base. Liberatore and Ward combined to retire 21 of the final 22 Herd batters to close out the game.

Harris, Means and Wright each tallied a pair of base hits in the win for the Sycamores.

Right-hander D’Andre Knight (0-1) was charged with the loss in relief after allowing the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Marshall starting pitcher Joshua Shapiro went four innings, allowing five hits and an earned run in his outing.

The Sycamores will wrap up the Hughes Brothers Challenge Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with Iona. Right-hander Tyler Whitbread is scheduled to make the start on the mound for Indiana State.