May 12, 2019

By Tim McCaughan

Indiana State Athletics

Sycamore Rally Falls Short as Patriots Earn Series Sweep

DALLAS -- Indiana State baseball suffered its first weekend sweep of 2019 at the hands of Dallas Baptist Sunday afternoon following a 7-3 loss at Horner Ballpark. With the setback, Indiana State fell to 34-14 overall and 11-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play while the Patriots moved to 36-15 and into a tie for first place in the MVC standings with a 12-6 mark.

The Sycamores brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning with the bases loaded in Ellison Hanna, but a hard-hit fly ball to center field cemented the Patriot victory. The Sycamores missed on several opportunities throughout hitting just .192 (5-for-26) with runners on base. In total the Sycamores put the leadoff man in base in five innings but left 14 runners stranded while DBU left just three runners on base.

The Patriots jumped out to an early lead for the second-straight game after putting up a three-spot in the third inning. Augie Isaacson and Blayne Jones picked up back-to-back hits setting up Bryce ball for his third home run of the weekend and five over the last week for the Patriots.

The Sycamores looked to answer back in the fifth and sixth innings, both with a pair of runners on and two outs but Jake Means hit a chopper to first to end the fifth and Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) struck out looking to close out the top of the sixth.

After getting out of both jams on defense, Dallas Baptist capitalized on the momentum and put up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead. Out of the bullpen, Tyler Ward issued just his third walk of the season to Ball to open the inning before Jimmy Glowenke singled through the left side of the infield.

The Sycamores looked to have dodged a bullet when Jackson Glenn popped up a bunt back to Ward and the right-hander threw back to first to double up the runner, but control seemed to be an issue after DBU picked up consecutive hit-by-pitches to load the bases.

The Patriots picked up their first run of the inning when Ball scored on a wild pitch before a balk was called to plate the second run. Evan Sandman capped off the inning with an RBI double down the line in right to plate the sixth run of the day for the home squad.

The Sycamores answered back just an inning later with three runs, the first time that ISU was able to capitalize on multiple baserunners in the game.

Chris Ayers reached on a wild pitch after striking put to open the inning before Luke Fegen doubled him home with a ball down the line in left for ISU’s first extra-base hit of the day. After Clay Dungan reached on a fielding error, Means poked a ball through the left side to plate the second run of the inning. Roby Enriquez looked to plate multiple runs with a sharp line drive down the right field line, but it would be just an RBI single after deflecting off the first base umpire back to Jones at second.

DBU was able to add an insurance run on a wild pitch in the eighth to make it a four-run game.

Camlachie, Ont., native Tyler Whitbread (6-2) was solid on the mound, allowing just three runs to the high-powered DBU offense. The senior went five innings and gave up just four base hits while striking out one in the loss. Ward allowed four runs in two and two-third innings. The Patriots sprayed three hits against the senior while going down twice on strikeouts.

Burl Carraway (4-1) went three innings in the predetermined start to collect his fourth win of the season. The left-hander struck out five and allowed just three base hits in the outing. MacGregor Hines (3) earned the three-inning save, allowing four hits and issuing a pair of walks in the game.

Means, Watkins, Wright and Fegen each tallied two base hits as the Sycamores outhit DBU, 10-8 on the day.

Ball led the Patriots with three RBIs on a two-hit day, including his three-run homer in the third.

UP NEXT

Indiana State will play its last regular season home series starting Thursday with Bradley making the trip to Terre Haute.