TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Two more members of the 2011 Indiana State baseball team signed professional contracts in recent days, as senior hurlers Jason Van Skike and Brett Merkley have both inked deals with the Chicago White Sox organization.

Van Skike, a native of Gig Harbor, Wash., came to Indiana State prior to the 2010 season after beginning his collegiate career at Treasure Valley Community College. The 6-foot-4 right-hander started 28 games and made a pair of relief appearances for ISU in his two seasons in Terre Haute, finishing his career with a 7-8 record and a 4.46 ERA over 157.1 innings on the mound. Van Skike tossed a pair of complete games and two shutouts in 2011, including a nine-inning no-hitter on March 5 at Central Arkansas.

Merkley, a native of Ferdinand, Ind., also transferred to ISU before the 2010 campaign, joining the Sycamores from Eastern Kentucky University. The 5-foot-11 right-hander appeared in 39 games for Indiana State, totaling a 1-4 record and a 4.88 ERA over 48 innings. Merkley was consistently tough on opposing batters, finishing his ISU career allowing a .228 average at the plate.

With the addition of Van Skike and Merkley, the Sycamores have seen four members of their 2011 roster move on to the professional ranks this season, with Colin Rea (12^th round - San Diego Padres) and Blake Drake (22^nd round - Chicago White Sox) being drafted earlier in June.

Another interesting note, the White Sox have now picked up six Sycamores over the past three seasons. In 2009, the Southsiders selected Nick Ciolli (10^th round) and Brady Shoemaker (19^th round) before drafting Jacob Petricka with the 63^rd overall selection in the second round last season.