TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –
Keegan Watson,
Randall Diaz, and
Jordan Schaffer all homered as Indiana State powered past visiting Dallas Baptist on Thursday night at Bob Warn Field as the Sycamores took the series opener over the Patriots, 10-6.
Saturday Update: Saturday's scheduled game between Indiana State and Dallas Baptist has been moved up an hour. First pitch on Senior Day is now set to start at 11 a.m. ET.
After DBU (33-19, 11-8 MVC) took an early 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of a trio of Indiana State (24-20, 9-10 MVC) errors, the Sycamores mounted a comeback. ISU sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second with
Keegan Watson and
Randall Diaz both homering, while
Josue Urdaneta connected on a three-run double in the seven-run frame to give the Sycamores the 7-5 lead.
Jordan Schaffer added a late two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to provide some late insurance runs, but the ISU bullpen featuring
Jack Parisi,
Jared Spencer, and
Connor Fenlong combined to go 3.0 scoreless innings and posting six strikeouts in closing out the Sycamores win.
Diaz finished a single shy of the cycle on Thursday night as the freshman third baseman homered, doubled, and tripled to highlight his 3-for-5 night. Urdaneta added two hits for his 20th multi-hit game of the season, while eight of the nine Sycamores in the starting lineup recorded hits in the series opener against DBU.
Matt Jachec (8-2) picked up the win after going 6.0+ innings on the mound. The redshirt sophomore surrendered five hits and six runs (two earned) while striking out five in taking the victory. The ISU pitching staff combined to allow just two runners on base after Parisi came into the game in the top of the seventh as the Sycamores held DBU off the board late in the win.
Cole Moore homered and doubled to lead the DBU offense on the day, while Nate Rombach added a double in his first at-bat after coming in off the bench as the Patriots struggled to connect against the Sycamores' staff.
Jacob Meador (7-3) took the loss after going 1.2 innings and allowing five hits and seven runs while striking out one. Bubba Hall went 2.1 innings in relief with six strikeouts, while Alec Baker struck out five over the final four innings to close it out on the mound for the Patriots.
How They Scored
- Cole Moore's leadoff solo home run sparked a five-run DBU inning in the top of the second, while the Patriots took advantage of three Indiana State errors to take the early 5-0 lead.
- The Sycamores responded with home runs by Keegan Watson and Randall Diaz in the second inning, while Josue Urdaneta connected on a bases-clearing three-run double to left center to give ISU the 7-5 lead after two innings.
- Keegan Watson scored the Sycamores' eighth run of the contest in the bottom of the third as the left fielder alertly tagged up on Joe Kido's foul ball down the left field line and scored to make it 8-5 after three innings.
- DBU took one back in the fifth with Jace Grady scoring on a long fly ball down the right field line to make it an 8-6 ballgame.
- The Sycamores put the final runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh as Jordan Schaffer connected on the 1-1 pitch from Alec Baker and drove it over the left field wall scoring Joe Kido and providing the final 10-6 margin.
News & Notes
- Indiana State's seven-run second inning marked the fifth time the Sycamores have scored seven or more runs in a single frame this season.
- Keegan Watson's solo home run in the second inning marked his fourth home run of the season and first since April 24 against Evansville.
- Randall Diaz's two-run home run in the second inning was his team-leading seventh home run of the season and first since April 30 against Missouri State.
- Watson and Diaz's home runs in the second inning marked the second time this season Indiana State has had multiple home runs in the same inning and first since Jordan Schaffer, Sean Ross, and Randall Diaz all homered in the third inning against Missouri State back on April 30.
- Jordan Schaffer's two-run home run in the seventh inning was his fourth of the year and first since April 30 against Missouri State.
- Randall Diaz became the seventh Sycamore to record a triple on the year as the freshman connected on ISU's first triple since April 12 against Indiana in the bottom of the eighth inning.
- Josue Urdaneta connected on his team-leading 20th multi-hit game of the 2022 season with his 2-for-5 game at the plate.
- Randall Diaz picked up his 15th multi-hit game of the year and team-leading ninth multi-RBI contest with his 3-for-5 day with two RBI in the win.
- Joe Kido recorded the first multi-RBI game of his Indiana State career with his two RBI in Thursday's win over DBU.
- The Sycamores recorded their 26th double-digit hit game of the 2022 season.
- ISU's pitching staff picked up its 15th double-digit strikeout game of the 2022 season.
- Matt Jachec went 6.0+ innings for the 13th time in the 2022 season.
Up Next
Indiana State and Dallas Baptist are back in action tomorrow evening with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
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