May 7, 2021

By Timothy McCaughan

Indiana State Athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Indiana State baseball picked up a 7-2 series-opening victory over Missouri State Friday afternoon at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.

With the win, the Sycamores improved to 22-11 on the season and 9-4 in Missouri Valley Conference action while MSU fell to 14-17 overall and 5-8 in MVC play.

Tied at three in the eighth inning, game two of the doubleheader was suspended due to a scheduling conflict with the Springfield Cardinals. The game will be resumed Saturday, May 8 at 11:30 a.m. E.T. with game three of the series following approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion.

Game One – Indiana State 7, Missouri State 2

Indiana State rallied from a 2-1 deficit to claim the opener of the series after scoring two in the third, one in the sixth and adding three insurance runs in the ninth.

The Sycamores jumped out to an early lead in the second when Mike Sears drove in Josue Urdaneta with a single to left. Missouri State answered with a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the inning from Mason Hill and Jaden Rolffs to take the lead.

Infielder Miguel Rivera drove in his 11th and 12th runs of the season in the top of the third and the Sycamores would not look back. Mitch Barrow tallied an RBI single in the sixth before MSU walked the bases loaded to start the ninth. Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) drove in two runs with a ball to right before Urdaneta picked up a walk to plate the seventh run of the game.

Geremy Guerrero improved to 8-1 on the year after going seven complete innings. The southpaw retired five Bears on punch outs while walking just two. Both runs charged to Guerrero came via the long ball.

Right-hander Connor Fenlong picked up his fifth save of the year after entering in the eighth. He struck out two and issued one walk while holding the Bears scoreless.

Rivera and Wright each tallied a pair of hits and two RBI in the victory.

Logan Wiley (4-3) took the loss for Missouri State after allowing four runs over 7 1/3 innings.

Game Two – Indiana State 3, Missouri State 3 -- Game Suspended/Will Resume May 8 at 11:30 a.m. E.T.

Indiana State tallied three runs in the top on three walks and two base hits to take the first lead of the game. Ellison Hanna II, Miguel Rivera and Urdaneta each drew walks before Sean Ross singled to right field to plate the first run. Freshman Grant Magill picked up two RBIs with a single down the line in right.

The Bears answered back with a two-run home run in the fifth from Hull -- his second homer of the day.

Missouri State opened the sixth with back-to-back infield singles behind the mound before both runners were able to move into scoring position on a wild pitch. Fenlong would pick up a strikeout before intentionally walking the bases loaded to setup a force at any bag. Fenlong would go on to induce a pair of popups to end the threat and hold MSU scoreless.

MSU led off the seventh with Ben Whetstone chopping a ball off the first-base bag that sailed down the line for a double. He would move to third on a single to the gap in right before coming home a batter later on a sacrifice fly. Fenlong would get a fly out and a ground ball to end the inning.

Tyler Grauer made the start for the Sycamores, going five complete innings with a no decision. The lefty struck out four and allowed two runs on seven hits. Fenlong -- the pitcher of record went two innings, allowing four hits and striking out one.

UP NEXT

Indiana State will wrap up game two of the series at 11:30 a.m. E.T. before playing game three shortly afterwards.