Indiana State kept alive its chances of finishing above .500 against nonconference opponents this season, thanks to a series sweep of Wright State, capped by Sunday's 11-8 Sycamore college baseball win in the Raiders' Nischwitz Stadum.
ISU also won Friday's doubleheader at Wright State by scores of 8-7 in 14 innings and 6-3.
Coach Tracy Archuleta's Sycamores now stand 13-15 in nonconference games, 21-19 overall and 8-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference. To finish above the .500 mark in non-MVC games, they'll need to win three remaining matchups, beginning with Tuesday's 6 p.m. game at Purdue in West Lafayette. ISU also plays host to Western Illinois on May 5 and Lindenwood on May 12.
On Sunday, ISU finished its sweep at Dayton, fueled by Mason Roell's full-count, two-run double in the top of the sixth inning to swing the advantage to the Sycamores. Carter Beck followed with a two-run home run as Indiana State rallied for the win.
Trailing 6-5 after Wright State scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Sycamores put two in scoring position with two outs in the sixth as Jeremy Martinez and Nomar Garcia both walked and stole third and second, respectively. Roell worked the full count against Wright State reliever Malachi Paplanus before driving the ball to the left center wall scoring both Martinez and Garcia to put ISU ahead. Beck followed greeting reliever Brody Papay (0-1) with a line drive home run over the right field wall to put Indiana State ahead 9-6, according to an ISU sports information report.
The Raiders scored twice in the bottom of the eighth off Cy Turner's two-run home run to get within 9-8. But in the top of the ninth, Beck and Emil Estrella both walked and Caden Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases with none out. Nick Sutherlin coaxed a bases-loaded walk scoring Beck, before Colin Sander's sacrifice fly scored Estrella to put the score at 11-8.
Justin Hoff got his second save for ISU, holding the lead. The right-hander retired all six batters he faced in order of the final two innings.
Roell doubled, drove in two RBIs, and scored two runs to pace the Sycamore offense, while Carter Beck, Nick Sutherlin, and Jeremy Martinez all recorded two RBIs in the game. Four different Sycamores scored two runs apiece, while Carter Beck, Jeremy Martinez, and Nomar Garcia all stole bases in the game.
Brady Banker (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after going a scoreless inning in the contest. Spencer Johnsen went the first 2.2 innings in the start, while Hunter Small, Jaxon Sparks, Breyllin Suriel, and Justin Hoff closed out the game on the mound.
Tuesday's ISU game at Purdue's Alexander Field will complete a home-and-home series against the Boilermakers (who are 28-11 overall, 15-6 in the Big Ten Conference). ISU beat Purdue 12-4 in the season's first meeting March 31 at Terre Haute.