Wright has two hits in Sycamores' loss

Great Lake Canadians alum Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) had two hits for the Indiana State Sycamores in their 7-1 loss to Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Photo: Indiana State University Athletics

April 16, 2019

By Tim McCaughan

Indiana State University Athletic Communications

Sycamores Drop Midweek Matchup with #6 Vanderbilt, 7-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Indiana State dropped its midweek matchup with No. 6 Vanderbilt, 7-1, Tuesday night at Hawkins Field. The Sycamores didn’t reach base until the fifth inning of play and finished with just three base hits in the loss.

The Commodores (28-9) used three-straight two-out base hits to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. After Sycamore (27-8) starter Geremy Guerrero retired the first four batters he faced, Julian Infante worked a walk and two batters later he would move into scoring position when Isaiah Thomas singled through the left side.

Catcher Ty Duvall put the Commodores on the board with a two-run double off the wall in left center. Nine-hole hitter Harrison Ray singled in Duvall a batter later with a single to left field and that would signal the end of the day for Guerrero as Austin Cross entered from the bullpen and got a ground ball to third to end the inning.

JJ Bleday hit his 16th home run of the season for the Commodores to open the third inning of play with a rocket to left-center as Vanderbilt extended its lead to 4-0.

Austin Moralis worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. The Commodores put the first two men on base on a walk and a base hit to before Moralis entered. Harrison Ray put down a bunt to first to move the runners over, but was called out for interference after running on the inside of the base path while Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) fielded the ball. Moralis would get a flyout to right before Moralis retired Ethan Paul with a strikeout.

Vanderbilt’s Mason Hickman retired 12-straight Sycamores to open the game before Roby Enriquez led off the fifth with a walk followed by a base hit through the right side from CJ Huntley to end the no-hit bid. Wright drove in Enriquez with a single back up the middle to cut the Vanderbilt lead to 4-1.

Paul would get a run back for Vandy in the bottom of the sixth with a ground-rule double over the wall in the gap in left, scoring Ray who picked up a one-out single and stole second earlier in the inning.

Joe Boyle picked up a leadoff walk to open the seventh -- the third walk of the day from Hickman, who entered play with just eight free passes issued in 42 innings pitched. With two out in the inning, Wright singled down the line in right to setup runners at the corners but a fly ball to shallow left ended the threat and ultimately Hickman’s outing as he returned to the Vanderbilt dugout with a 5-1 lead.

Thomas would help the Commodores pick up an insurance run in the seventh with a two-out double off the wall in center. A batter later, Duvall drove in his third run of the day with a single up the middle to bring in Thomas to extend the Vandy lead to 6-1. The Commodores added a run in the eighth and the rest was academic.

Geremy Guerrero was tagged with the loss, falling to 1-2 on the year after allowing three runs in an inning and two-thirds. Austin Moralis went one and two-third innings and allowed just one base hit in relief while striking out two. Tyler Grauer struck out the first three hitters he faced out of the bullpen and finished with five in two and two-thirds.

Wright recorded two of the teams’ three base hits in the game while Huntley snagged the third hit.

With the victory, Hickman improved to 5-0 on the season after a seven inning start. The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out five while allowing one or fewer runs in his last five starts.

Thomas led the Commodores with a 3-for-4 day. Duvall drove in three runs on two hits while Bleday added two hits, including a double and an RBI for Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt outhit Indiana State, 14-3. Five of the seven Commodore runs were scored with two outs.

Next Up

Indiana State returns to the road for a weekend series at Missouri Valley Conference foe Evansville beginning Friday. First pitch with the Aces is set for 7 p.m. E.T. from Braun Stadium.