Wright homers to help Sycamores to win
Great Lake Canadians alum Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) homered in the sixth inning to help the Indiana State Sycamores to a 8-2 win over Saint Louis on Thursday. Photo: ISU Athletics (file photo)
April 1, 2021
By Timothy McCaughan
Indiana State Athletics
ST. LOUIS – No. 23 Indiana State secured a series opening victory over Saint Louis Thursday afternoon with an 8-2 win at Billikens Sports Center. ISU improved to 12-6 on the season while SLU dropped to 7-17.
The Sycamores outhit Saint Louis 8-7 while taking advantage of four errors in the field, including a pair of errors in the second inning. Sycamore outfielder Sean Ross made his way to third on a ball dropped in right field. He would come home two batters later as SLU third baseman Kyle Fitzgerald threw the ball away to extend the inning.
Two innings later ISU added another run as Diego Gines led off the frame by reaching on an error in centre as two SLU outfielders collided to allow Gines to reach third. He came home on a ground out to second to extend the Sycamore lead to 2-0.
A St. Louis, Mo. native, Connor Cline was impressive in his start on the mound. The right-hander set new career highs after going 6 2/3 innings and retiring eight Billikens via strikeouts. Cline got off to a quick start, retiring six of the first nine Billikens he faced on punchouts before settling in to go deep into the game.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning that SLU was able to make solid contact as Fitzgerald made up for his error with a solo home run over the wall in left centre. That was the lone run that Cline would surrender in the outing as he went nearly seven complete. Overall, SLU was able to spray just four hits on Cline as he limited baserunners throughout to improve to 3-0 on the season.
ISU was able to get the offence going again from the sixth inning on, scoring six runs late. Max Wright Toronto, Ont.) and Sean Ross hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth before the Sycamores added two more unearned runs in the seventh.
Brian Fuentes added late insurance with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to make it an 8-1 ISU lead.
Cam Edmonson pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing three hits and a run while striking out a trio of Billikens.
Ross led the Sycamores with a 2-for-5 day while six other Sycamores recorded base hits.
Mark Finkelnburg fell to 0-6 on the season after allowing just two earned runs in six innings of action. He struck out four and walked one as ISU recorded six hits on the lefty.
The Sycamores will return to the field on Friday as the team looks to secure a series win. First pitch with the Billikens is scheduled for 4 p.m.