TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State provided free baseball for fans for the fifth time in its past nine games Tuesday night. The Sycamores and Valparaiso Crusaders battled for more than 4 1/2 hours and into the 16th inning before the Sycamores came away with a 2-1 victory.
Jeff Miera laid down a sacrifice bunt with no outs and runners on first and second, and Valpo third baseman Elliott Martin sailed a throw over the first baseman’s head, allowing Kyle Burnam to trot home for the winning run. ISU (29-9) improved to 5-2 in extra-inning games with the win.
The Sycamore fans could thank Brandon Dorsett, who helped take the game to extra innings by coaxing a line-drive hit on the infield by Will Hagel in the ninth inning.
Dorsett’s family golden retriever Paisley — it was Terre Haute Humane Society’s Bark at the Park event and fans brought dogs to Bob Warn Field — rooted him on as Jordan Pearson caught the liner and threw to first for a double play.
ISU relief pitcher Tyler Pakiz followed up Dorsett with 4 1/3 scoreless innings as the Sycamores’ bullpen didn’t allow a run for the last 10 innings of the contest.
“That’s what we talked about with the team was that the pitching staff did a tremendous job. All the guys that came in did a good job and battled out of some tough spots,” ISU coach Rick Heller said. “All those guys are starting to get more and more confidence each time out, and that’s going to bode well for us down the stretch.”
The Sycamores’ offense continued to struggle with runners in scoring position. Through 12 innings, ISU had left 19 runners stranded. The Sycamores finished with 24 runners left on base.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrating that was. Unfortunately, that’s baseball and we had some guys that didn’t have very good at-bats in some clutch situations. We were fortunate to find a way to win,” Heller said.
ISU scored its only run in the bottom of the third as West Vigo graduates hooked up for the scoring play. Shortstop Tyler Wampler drove home catcher Jeremy Lucas with a base hit to center field.
Both the Sycamores and Crusaders had their share of defensive gems.
ISU center fielder Lucas Hileman had two outstanding assists to nail potentially game-winning runs at home.
Hileman one-hopped a throw to nail a diving Chris Manning in the fourth inning.
Hileman did it again, throwing out Loeffler with a strike to Lucas in the air at home on a base hit by Manning in the top of the 15th inning.
“Those are plays that I have complete control over. It’s been a rough year offensively so far, but defense is something I’ve always been something I can hang my hat on. I had good situations, had some good hops come right to me. That last ball was a little bit wet, but I got a perfect grip on the ball and was able to throw it home,” Hileman said.
In the bottom of the 15th inning, ISU had a golden opportunity after Hileman set things up with a leadoff single, but eventually a defensive gem by Valpo second baseman Andrew Bain sent the game to the 16th inning.
Landon Curry sacrificed Hileman to second while also reaching first as the Valparaiso pitcher’s attempt to get Curry out at second was late. Koby Kraemer bunted the runners to second and third, and Valpo opted to intentionally walk Jeremy Lucas.
But ISU clean-up hitter Robby Ort made it an 0-for-7 night at the plate with a pop out to short with the bases loaded and one out.
Jon Hedges brought the remaining fans to their feet with a line drive headed up the middle, but Bain snagged the liner off one hop with his bare hand and flipped to shortstop Spencer Mahoney for the third out.
In the top of the 16th, it was Valpo that loaded the bases, but ISU relief pitcher Kurt Kudrecki induced Hagel to fly out deep to left field on a 3-2 count.
ISU’s bullpen worked out of jams all night long, with help from quality defenders.
“Definitely the defense. Luc amazed everybody tonight,” said Pakiz, who allowed just one hit in his 4 1/3 innings. “My command was there before the game, I was a little iffy on my curve ball, but figured it out once I got in the game thank goodness. It felt good to get out there and throw for an extended period of time.”
The bullpen is hoping to assert itself down the stretch, the lefty added.
“After our game against IU where it kind of fell apart, we decided that we’ve got to show everybody that we are the best team in the nation pretty much,” Pakiz said.
Indiana State University
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Out at home: Valparaiso base runner Chris Manning is tagged out at home by Indiana State catcher Jeremy Lucas. The throw came from center fielder Lucas Hileman.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Duck! Indiana State second baseman Kyle Kraemer ducks out of the way in time for shortstop Tyler Wampler to throw out a Valparaiso batter.
Discussion
Error in 16th gives Sycamores a hard-fought baseball win
- Indiana State University
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