Life in the Valley

Murray State, UIC Fall in Wednesday Action

Indiana State DH Luis Fernandez had a 2-run double and a sac fly to drive in another run as the Sycamores improved to 4-0 on the season with a 5-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast in North Port, Fla. FGCU, who were swept by Indiana State nemesis TCU on opening weekend, fell to 0-4.

On a night where no Indiana State batter had more than 1 hit, the Sycamores did bash 3 doubles and draw 6 walks. Randal Diaz and Henry Brown drew 2 free passes each.

Brennyn Cutts got the start on the mound for the Sycamores and he turned in a solid midweek effort, pitching 4 innings and allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Cole Gilley got the win after recording the next 4 outs, before Adam Berghorst pitched 2.2 perfect innings with 1 strikeout. Zach Davidson worked the 9th with 2 strikeouts to get the save.

Despite hitting a modest .256 as a team, the Sycamores are perfect thanks to holding opponents to a .191 average. Indiana State has outscored its 4 opponents, 20-10, and haven’t allowed a home run.

SEMO 8, Murray State 7

The news wasn’t as good for other Missouri Valley Conference teams on Wednesday. At Southeast Missouri, the Murray State Racers dropped their first game of the season, 8-7, to SEMO, which picked up its first victory.

Murray State carried a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 6th inning, but SEMO rallied for 6 runs to take the lead for good. SEMO hit 4 homers in the inning and added another in the 8th to take an 8-5 lead. The Racers (3-1) got 2 back in the 9th – 1 on Logan Bland’s RBI triple to score Gunnar Bingham, and another when Drew Vogel (3-for-5, R, RBI) reach on error that allowed Bland to score. But the Racers couldn’t draw level.

Carson Garner homered twice for Murray State to help the Racers build their lead, driving in 3. Garner is hitting .571 through 4 games with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs. He’s slugging 1.429 and has an insane 2.113 OPS. Jonathan Hogart and Taylor Howell also had 2 hits each for Murray. Hogart leads Murray State with 8 runs scored. The Racers are hitting .333 as a team.

Reed Braundmeier (0-1) took the loss. Starter Kane Elmy went 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Thomas McNabb pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief.

Incarnate Word 22, UIC 7 (7)

Fresh off taking 2 of 3 from Kansas on opening weekend, the UIC Flames were knocked down a peg Wednesday, dropping a 22-7 decision to Incarnate Word (4-1). The game was over from the start, as Incarnate Word scored 10 runs in the 1st inning and then plowed home 10 more in the 5th. It was 22-2 before the Flames could add 5 in the 6th.

A.J. Henkle went 3-for-3 for the Flames with 2 runs and an RBI. Ryan Nagelbach homered. Jackson Bessette and Zane Zielinski had 2 hits each in the loss. Ryan Smith (0-1) took the loss.

Up Next: Valley diamonds are quiet on Thursday.