Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
PEORIA, Ill. – Indiana State picked up where they left off on Saturday, as they took the early advantage over Bradley and did not look back. The Sycamores and Braves kept it tight through eight innings with Indiana State breaking through in the ninth to take the 6-2 lead that would hold strong to earn them their fifth MVC series win of the season. Indiana State improved to 32-18 overall, and 11-7 in MVC play as juniors Weston Rivers and Damon Olds combined for top-notch performances on the mound. Rivers earned his second win of the season, tossing five innings, allowing only two Bradley runs. Olds was nearly flawless as he fanned a career-high seven batters in four shutout innings of relief to earn his second save of the season.
DeJesus carried over his hitting from Saturday as he led off the game with a stand-up double, got to third on a fly ball from senior Andy Young, and then scored on a passed ball.
Indiana State took a 2-0 lead in the third as redshirt freshman Dane Tofteland led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of DeJesus.
Junior Weston Rivers retired nine in-a-row through the first three innings before the Braves scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to even the scoreboard at 2-2.
The Sycamores bounced back in the top of the sixth when DeJesus led off again, reaching on an error by the Braves' shortstop. Young followed, beating out a perfectly placed bunt to put two on the bases. DeJesus used his speed to get himself to third as the Braves' catcher bobbled a ball, and then made his way home to score on a RBI fielder's choice from senior Kaden Moore, his 49th RBI of the season to pull ahead, 3-2.
Junior Damon Olds entered the game to pitch for the Sycamores in the bottom of the sixth and pitched out of two jams in both the sixth and seventh innings, blanking the Braves offense.
Indiana State's offense manufactured an insurance run in the top of the eighth as Young stroked his sixth homer of the season over the left field wall in solo fashion, putting ISU up 4-2.
After another flawless inning on the mound for Olds, junior Tony Rosselli led off as he was hit by a pitch, and then sophomore Tyler Friis singled on a hit and run, placing runners on the corners. Freshman Clay Dungan then entered the game to pinch hit, ripping a RBI double off the right field wall to plate Rosselli. Senior Andrew Gutierrez put up another run for the Sycamores as his sacrifice fly to center sent Friis home safely, pushing Indiana State ahead 6-2.
Olds retired three in-a-row in the bottom of the ninth to secure the Sycamores' fifth MVC series win of the season, lifting the Sycamores to 14 games over .500 for the first time this season.
In the win for the Sycamores, Young went 2-for-4, knocking his sixth homer of the season, while Tofteland was 2-for-3 with a run scored and DeJesus scored twice.
The Sycamores will be back in action at Bob Warn Field on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET when they host the Eastern Illinois Panthers for a single game. Indiana State will finish off the regular season at home with a three-game series against Evansville beginning on Thursday night. Be sure to follow the Sycamores on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.
