TERRE
HAUTE, Ind. - The Indiana State baseball team won their
sixth extra-inning game of the season on Friday, getting a run-scoring single
by junior Jeremy Lucas in the 10th inning to complete the 1-0 shutout
of the visiting Wichita State Shockers from Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium.
The win improves ISU to 35-11 overall and 9-4 within the Missouri Valley
Conference, one-half game behind the Missouri State Bears who play outside of
the league this weekend. WSU falls to 28-21 on the season, 6-7 in the MVC.
Sophomore Tyler Wampler led off the 10th inning with a single
through the left side of the infield before moving to second when left-fielder
Micah Green bobbled the ball. After an intentional walk to freshman Landon Curry and a fielder's
choice off the bat of junior Jordan Pearson, Lucas came to the plate with
runners on first and second and one out in extra innings. Lucas worked the
count into his favor and sent a 3-1 pitch on the ground down the left field
line and past the diving glove of Tyler Baker at third base, allowing Curry to
round third and score the game-winning run.
Indiana State is now 6-3 in extra-inning contests this season and 10-6 in one-run
games. The shutout is the eighth of the season for ISU, their most since the
1991 season. The school record for shutouts in a single season is 10 held by
the 1977 squad.
ISU junior Dakota Bacus and WSU senior Josh Smith battled through seven scoreless
innings, combining to allow just seven base hits. Bacus went seven innings
while striking out six batters, while Smith lasted 6.2 innings with four
strikeouts. Senior Reggie Hochstedler (4-1) worked three strong innings out of the
ISU bullpen, allowing just one hit while striking out four batters to earn the
win in relief. WSU closer Cale Elam (4-4) took the loss in the 10
th
inning.
Indiana State consistently worked out of trouble on Friday night, as Wichita State
left nine runners on base and put a runner on base in seven of their 10 innings
at the plate.
Lucas, senior Kyle Burnam, senior Jon Hedges, redshirt junior Koby Kraemer and
Wampler all tallied one hit at the plate.
The Sycamores and Shockers play game two of their series at 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday, with ISU sending sophomore southpaw Sean Manaea (4-1, 3.13 ERA) to
the mound against WSU's redshirt freshman left-hander Kris Gardner (4-1, 2.76
ERA).
