Indiana State utilized timely hitting, patience at the plate and strong relief outings from Jack Armstrong and Colby Morse to take Tuesday night’s midweek baseball contest at SIU Edwardsville 12-5.
The Sycamores (14-14) seized control early as they had runners on base often over the opening frames.
Jeremy Martinez, Jackson Taylor and Keegan Garis all drove in runs over the first three innings before the Indiana State hitters started to work the count against the SIUE pitching staff.
Indiana State drew five bases-loaded walks over the course of the contest on its way to drawing 14 walks total against the Cougars. Eli Gipson drew a season-high four walks, while four additional Sycamores had multiple walks.
ISU’s Emil Estrella drew his first collegiate start on the mound and went 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and one run while walking three and striking out two. He turned the ball over to Armstrong (2-0) in the bottom of the third inning and the junior right-hander delivered another standout performance on the mound.
Armstrong went 3.0 innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two as he kept the Cougars off-balance over the middle innings. Aaron Moss bridged the sixth inning to Morse and the Sycamore senior went the rest of the way allowing two hits, while striking out six in his first save with the Sycamores.
Pena, Weston Fulk, Garis and Garcia all had multi-hit games as the Sycamores connected on 11 hits in the win. Fulk added a pair of doubles, while four different Indiana State players recorded a stolen base.
Kyle Hepburn had two of SIUE’s seven hits to highlight the Cougars’ offense. Ethan Willoughby doubled and Chase Bloomer added a two-run homer for SIUE’s extra-base hits in the game.
Indiana State remains on the road for another Missouri Valley Conference weekend series as the Sycamores travel to Nashville, Tenn., and E.S. Rose Park for a three-game series with Belmont. First pitch in Friday’s opener is set for 5 p.m. EST.
SIU Edwardsville dropped to 12-15.
