BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Host Indiana State scored all 10 its runs in the last three innings as the Sycamores used a late surge to cruise past the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team, 10-3, on Friday night in the first game of this weekend’s three game series on Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium.

Junior right-hander Matt Fyffe (0-3) started for EKU (6-11) and held ISU (7-9) scoreless, while surrendering only three hits, over the first five innings of play; however, in the bottom of the sixth, the Sycamores exploded for five runs and then added two more in the bottom of the seventh to suddenly blow the game open.

Right-hander Colin Rea (4-1) earned the win for ISU, going 8.2 innings and allowing just two earned runs on seven hits.

Senior Ryan Faidley and sophomore Matt Phipps both collected two hits in the game for EKU, while junior Dustin Dunlop and senior Bryce Labhart drove in a run each.

Robby Ort led the Sycamores at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.

The game appeared to be a pitchers’ duel early as neither team scored over the first five innings of the game. In the bottom of the sixth, however, Fyffe walked the first two batters he faced and then surrendered a bunt single to Kyle Burnam. The next batter, Ort, singled in a run before a throwing error by freshman Bryan Soloman allowed another run to score. With the bases loaded and still no outs, the Sycamores pushed across three more runs before the Colonels were able to get out of the inning. ISU added two runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the bottom of the eighth to quickly pull away.

Faidley manufactured the Colonels’ first run of the game nearly on his own as he singled to lead off the top of the eighth, advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch and then scored on a groundout by Labhart. EKU pushed across two more runs in the top of the ninth when Dunlop scored sophomore Jeff Emerich with a pinch-hit single and sophomore Alex Hughes singled and scored on a wild pitch, but it was too little too late as ISU held on for the game one victory.

EKU will attempt to even the series tomorrow in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.