Life in the Valley

Host and top-seed Indiana State, 2-seed Missouri State, 4th-seeded Evansville, and #5 Murray State survived Day 3 of the Missouri Valley Conference baseball Championship, the last quartet standing as Thursday saw 3 teams eliminated.

Indiana State and UE are the last two remaining unscathed teams, with the Sycamores crushing Belmont today, 10-0, while the Purple Aces scored the deciding runs in the 7th inning then held on to knock off Murray State, 3-2. The Racers and Missouri State will play for the 2nd time in this Championship at 11 a.m. Eastern Friday with the loser going home. The winner will play again at 6 p.m. against the loser of the Indiana State/UE winner’s bracket contest that will be played at 2:30.

While eliminated, Belmont had a good start today, winning the world-famous 9 a.m. start in an upset of 3rd-seeded Southern Illinois, 6-5. Mason Landers doubled in 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning, then a walk to Sam Slaughter brought in a 3rd run as the Bruins tied the game at 5. In the 9th, Ethan Harden singled home Blake Barton with the eventual game-winning run. Harden pitched the 8th and 9th, as well, getting the win. SIU’s Ryan Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, and 4 RBIs, but the Salukis’ season came to an end at 30-27. SIU lost 6 of its last 8 to end the season.

In the day’s 2nd game, Missouri State blanked UIC, 5-0, to send the Flames home. Zack Stewart hit a 2-run homer and had 3 RBIs in the game. Jake McCutcheon doubled and tripled from the leadoff spot. Hayden Minton pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 7. Scott Youngbrandt worked the 8th and 9th to finish the game. UIC’s season ended at 28-25.

Game 3 of the day and 9 of the Championship saw Belmont return to the field, this time against #1 Indiana State. The Sycamores broke open a 1-0 game with 4 runs in the 5th inning, then extended the lead to 10-0 in the 8th to set up a run-rule victory. Parker Stinson hit the lone Indiana State homer, joining Miguel Rivera and Mike Sears with 2 RBIs each. Rivera had 3 of Indiana State’s 13 hits. All of that offense (the last 9 runs of it) was more than enough for Connor Fenlong, who pitched his nation-leading 4th complete-game shutout of the season, allowing just 5 hits with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. Fenlong needed an obscenely low 67 pitches to get through 8 innings, registering 24 outs in a Greg Maddux-esque 2.79 pitches per out. The victory was Indiana State’s 40th of the campaign. The Bruins’ season is complete at 27-33.

The nightcap featured a battle of unbeatens in the Championship as Evansville took on Murray State. The Purple Aces (35-22) trailed, 2-0, entering the 7th, but scored 3 times to turn the game around. Simon Scherry tripled home Mark Shallenberger to make it 2-1, then Brent Widder’s single tied the game. Evan Waggoner then scored the decisive run on an error. Michael Parks worked 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, to get the save for winner Donovan Schultz. Eric Roberts went 1-for-3 and stole his 20th base, to go with 21 HRs, making him one of just 4 players in the country with at least 20 HRs and 20 stolen bases. Drew Vogel and Carson Garner drove in Murray State’s (31-27) runs in the 6th inning.

Here’s Friday’s slate at the MVC Championship, with 4 teams remaining. All games are live and archived on ESPN+, and all times are Eastern. Get yourself some baseball!

11 a.m. – Game 11: #5 Murray State (2-1) vs. #2 Missouri State (1-1), elimination game
2:30 p.m. – Game 12: #4 Evansville (2-0) vs. #1 Indiana State (2-0)
6 p.m. – Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 12, elimination game