March 8, 2019

By Tim McCaughan

Indiana State Athletics

Sycamores Power Past Mercer in Series Opener, 12-7

MACON, Ga. - Indiana State baseball racked up a season-high 17 base hits Friday night at OrthoGeorgia Park as the Sycamores defeated Mercer, 12-7 in the series opener. With the victory ISU improved to 10-1 on the year and 8-1 on the road.

“I like the way we showed up to the park with focus. Obviously, we get off to a 7-0 lead but after that I just feel like we weren’t sharp and we made some mistakes that we typically don’t make,” head coach Mitch Hannahs said after the game.

Six of the Sycamores 17 base hits were extra-base hits with three coming on doubles while ISU struck for a trio of home runs. There was no time wasted as the Sycamores went for seven runs in the first inning with Clay Dungan leading off the game with a solo home run -- his second of the season before senior designated hitter Romero Harris blasted a two-run shot to left field to make it 4-0.

The Sycamores were able to bat around in the first allowing Dungan to drive in two more runs on a single off the glove of the second baseman. Jake Means and Luke Fegen and Roby Enriquez also drove in runs in the inning.

The Bears (9-6) entered the scoring column in the third when Kel Johnson singled up the middle to drive in two runs.

Another crooked number would light up the scoreboard in the top of the fourth for the Sycamores as Jarrod Watkins and Means singled in the frame before Hunter Lewis was able to draw a two-out walk to load the bases, bringing Max Wright to the plate. Wright would deliver his second homer of the season on a 2-1 count to cleared the bases with a grand slam over the wall in right field.

Mercer would get a grand slam of their own to cut into the lead in the fifth and tack on one more run in the sixth before the Sycamore bullpen closed the door for good.

Jake Ridgway earned his third save of the season after tossing the final three innings and allowing just one base hit. Evan Giles entered in the sixth with two on and one out and would get out of the inning after inducing a fielder’s choice and a fly out.

“We hated to go to Jake so early but I just felt like they had all the momentum and in this park, I’m not sure if you feel really good with five runs,” Hannahs said. “He came in and he wasn’t as sharp early, but he really settled in and was really good.”

Sycamore starting pitcher Triston Polley improved to 3-0 on the year after logging five and a third innings. Polley allowed five hits, five earned runs and walked five in the outing.

Johnson accounted for all six of Mercer’s RBI on the night, finishing with two base hits. Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long was charged with the loss after giving up 11 earned runs in four innings on the mound.

The Sycamores return to the field Saturday for a doubleheader with the Bears. Game one is slated for a 2 p.m. start while the nightcap is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Right-handers Collin Liberatore and Tyler Whitbread are scheduled to start each game on the mound for the Trees.