Life in the Valley

Diaz Homers Again as Indiana State Earns 6-4 Win; Return Date with Illinois

Indiana State was never going down *that* easy.

One day after the offense all but disappeared in a 4-1 loss to Illinois, the Sycamores won their elimination game in the Lexington Regional Saturday, defeating Western Michigan, 6-4.

Indiana State (43-14) earned a rematch with Illinois in the first game tomorrow in Lexington. Illinois fell into the loser’s bracket after a 6-1 loss to host Kentucky later Saturday. It will be the 4th meeting this season between the MVC and Big Ten regular-season champions. Illinois leads the series, 2-1, but Sunday’s game will by far be the most important of the quartet.

After just 1 run on 3 hits in Friday’s loss, the Sycamores wasted no time putting their stamp on the game Saturday. Mike Sears doubled in 2 runs in the 1st, then Grant Magill’s single scored Sears to make it 3-0. Dominic Listi later scored Indiana State’s 4th run of the inning on Riley Iffrig’s sacrifice fly.

But before the Broncos (32-23) could respond, Indiana State struck again. Randal Diaz homered in the 2nd, his 2nd solo homer in as many days and 18th on the season. Adam Pottinger made it 6-0 Sycamores with a solo homer of his own in the 3rd inning.

No more runs crossed the plate for the Sycamores, though Dominic Listi finished the game 4-for-5, while Diaz and Pottinger each had 2 hits. Four Western Michigan relievers combined to throw 6 innings of scoreless relief, with just 4 hits, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. WMU ace Nolan Vicek started and gave up all 6 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings, getting just 9 outs on 75 pitches.

Indiana State didn’t get a long outing from starter Luke Hayden, as he went 4 1/3 innings and threw 97 pitches, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts. But importantly for the Sycamores as they traverse the loser’s bracket, they only had to use 2 pitchers Saturday. Cam Edmonson worked the final 4 2/3 innings, giving up just 1 run on 4 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts on 67 pitches (4.79 pitches per out). Edmonson earned the win to improve to 6-2 on the season. Vicek dropped to 5-4.

Illinois (35-20), which got through its first meeting against Indiana State only pitching starter Jack Crowder (8 IP, 106 pitches) and reliever Joseph Glassey (1 IP, 14 pitches), threw 4 arms today. Starter Payton Hutchings went 5 innings and threw 78 pitches, while Julius Sanchez (1 IP, 27 pitches); Ben Plumley (1 IP, 9 pitches); and Jake Rons (2 IP, 36 pitches) all worked. If healthy, Cooper Omans (4-1, 3.73 in 12 starts) figures to start Sunday vs. Indiana State.

The Sycamores still have Brennyn Cutts, the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year who hasn’t yet appeared in this regional. Cutts is 6-1 with a 3.89 ERA but has allowed 16 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings over his last 5 appearances. He last worked on March 25 in the MVC Tournament final against Evansville, going 3 2/3 innings with just 1 run allowed.

Pottinger’s homer was his 10th of the season, making him the 5th Sycamore with at least 10 dingers this season.

Lexington Regional – Game 3
ISU 6 11 0 (43-14)
WMU 4 7 0 (32-23)
W: Edmonson (6-2)
L: Vicek (5-4)
S: None
HR: Diaz, ISU (18); Pottinger, ISU (10); Nevar, WMU (16).