Life in the Valley

Indiana State Rallies Past Evansville Again, 6-4

To beat Indiana State and give itself a chance to win this weekend’s matchup with the Sycamores, Evansville knew it would have to get to State starter Brennyn Cutts, who entered the day 2nd in the Missouri Valley Conference at 2.94.

UE accomplished that goal. Cutts left in the 5th inning having given up 4 runs on 6 hits over 82 pitches, and Evansville had managed a 4-3 lead.

But, as usual, if it’s Indiana State, when you subdue one part of the MVC’s Godzilla, another facet of the monster’s attack arises to shut you down.

Today, that was Zach Davidson, who pitched 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 10. Davidson recorded 2 fly outs and 1 ground out as part of his 13-out performance. Simon Gregersen got his 6th save with a 1-out appearance when Mark Shallenberger and Kip Fougerousse singled to put the tying runs on base in the 9th inning. Gregersen got Cal McGinnis to line out to second to end the game.

Indiana State’s 6-4 win clinched not only its 18th consecutive conference series triumph, but also confirmed the Sycamores will repeat as the #1 seed in the upcoming Valley Tournament. Any Indiana State win or UIC loss in the last 4 conference games of the regular season will give the Sycamores (36-10, 19-4) the crown outright.

Fougerousse getting on base in the 9th was no surprise by that point. The UE first baseman went 5-for-5 with a run, 2 doubles, a homer, and 3 RBIs in a command performance. Shallenberger and Simon Scherry added 2 hits each, but the rest of the Purple Aces (28-22, 14-9) went 1-for-24.

Adam Pottinger homered and drove in 3 for Indiana State, which now appears not only well poised to once again host an NCAA Regional, but with an RPI of 9 entering Saturday according to D1Baseball.com, the Sycamores will at least be in consideration for a top-8 national seed. Such is life when you’re 43-7 in your last 50 conference games.

Pottinger’s 2-run single and a bases-loaded walk by Mike Sears helped Indiana State erase Evansville’s 2-0 lead in the 1st. Down 4-3 in the 4th, Pottinger tied the game with a solo homer. The Sycamores took the lead for good in the 5th when Luis Hernandez homered.

UIC 7, Illinois State 4: The Flames picked up an important win as with Evansville’s loss, UIC now sits alone in 2nd place in the Valley. The Flames and Purple Aces wrap up the conference season against each other next weekend. Today, UIC broke open a 4-4 tie in the 7th inning when Kendal Ewell doubled in a run and then scored on A.J. Taylor’s single. Taylor later scored on an error. Zane Zielinski went 2-for-3 with 3 runs for the Flames (32-15, 15-8), while Ewell doubled, homered, and drove in 3. Auggie Rasmussen hit his 3rd homer of the series for Illinois State (25-23, 13-10). Reece Lawler picked up his MVC-leading 11th save for the Flames.

Murray State 7, Valparaiso 3: Jacob Pennington struck out a career-high 12 batters over 6 2/3 innings in a workhorse 112-pitch effort as Murray State downed Valpo, 7-3. Pennington, who fanned 6 Valpo hitters during his first trip through the order, struck out nearly half the batters he faced, before giving way to 3 Racers relievers who combined to get the last 7 outs without allowing a run. Nathan Holler picked up his 8th save. Drew Vogel remained red hot for Murray State (33-18, 13-10) driving in 4 runs with a double and another home run. Valpo (14-33, 6-17) managed 11 hits but could only plate 3 runs. The Beacons left 9 men on base. The win lifted Murray State into a 4th-place tie with Illinois State, but the Racers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Belmont 6, Missouri State 3: The Bears are now 0-2 since announcing their intention to move to Conference USA, as Michael Lareau’s 2-run single in the 4th inning gave Belmont a 4-1 lead and the Bruins never looked back in a 6-3 win. Lareau went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs, and this great catch in center field.

Nick Rodriguez and Dylan Leach homered for Missouri State (19-31, 8-15). Joe Ruzicka went 7 innings to get the win for Belmont (24-26, 11-12), striking out 4.

Southern Illinois 12, Bradley 6: Bennett Eltoft homered twice, while Steven Loden and Hesston Gray each added yard work, as Southern Illinois took care of Bradley Saturday, 12-6. Eltoft homered in the 6th inning, a 2-run shot that brought the Salukis back within 5-3. In the 7th, he hit a 3-run homer to give the Salukis the lead for good at 8-5. Gray’s grand slam in the 8th put the game away. Gray drove in 5 for the game. Loden hit a solo shot in the 5th for SIU’s first run of the game. Bradley had taken a 5-0 lead in part thanks to a pair of RBI singles by Michael Mylott. Jake Combs pitched 5 innings of 1-run, 2-hit relief to get the win.

Sunday on Valley Diamonds: All 5 series conclude (weather permitting) and will be streamed on ESPN+. All times Central:

Evansville at #20 Indiana State, Noon
Bradley at Southern Illinois, 1
Valparaiso at Murray State, 1
Illinois State at UIC, 1
Missouri State at Belmont, 1

If You’re Still Starved for More College Baseball: It’s Worst vs. First in the West Coast Conference at 2 Central, as leaders San Diego (36-13, 19-4) take on San Francisco (20-30, 3-17).