TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Fighting Illini baseball (19-22, 8-10) fell to Indiana State (29-13, 16-2), 5-4, in 13 innings on Tuesday night at Bob Warn Field.
Entering the ninth inning trailing 2-1, Ryan Moerman took the first pitch he saw over the wall in right-center for a game-tying solo shot. TJ Constertina would enter the game in the bottom half of the inning with one on and nobody out, but Camden Janik cut down a Sycamore basreunner attempting to steal, wiping the slate clean. Constertina then got both batters he faced in the inning to fly out in foul territory to send the contest to extras.
In the 10th, Branden Comia gave the Illini the lead by golfing one out to left to start the inning. Janik would follow with a four-pitch walk and would later move into scoring position. With two outs, Drake Westcott lined a single back up the middle to score Janik, giving the Illini an important insurance run, making it a 4-2 contest.
The Sycamores would load the bases with one out in their half of the frame and push two runs across on a fielder's choice and an error to tie the game. Illinois was sent down in order in both the 11th and 12th, but Jack Crowder was equal to the task on the mound, matching his Indiana State counterpart. Crowder would tally four strikeouts over his 2.2 innings of work.
The Illini were again sent down in order in the 13th and the Sycamores kicked-off the bottom of the inning with a home run to win in walk-off fashion, 5-4.
Indiana State scratched a run across in the second to open the scoring in the game but Cam McDonald would level the contest again in the fourth a solo blast, his second home run in as many games.
Julius Sanchez tossed the first quality start of his collegiate career, working 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits. Sanchez struck out four batters and did not issue a free pass.
The Sycamores took their second lead of the game in the fifth, pushing a run across to make it 2-1. That scoreline held until Moerman's heroics in the ninth.
GAME NOTES
» Julius Sanchez worked the first quality start of his career but did not factor into the decision.
    » 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1 HBP
    » Induced three double plays.
    » Career-high in innings pitched.
» Ryan Moerman went 2-for-6 with a run, home run and an RBI.
    » Has two multi-hit games in his last three.
    » Has three home runs in his last three games.
    » Has recorded an RBI in three-straight games...seven total in last three...nine in last five...leads the team with 39 RBI.
» Cam McDonald went 1-for-6 with a run, home run and an RBI.
    » Is one hit away from being tied for 10th in hits in program history.
» Jack Crowder retired the first eight batters he faced out of the bullpen.
    » Pick up two strikeouts in both of the 11th and 12th innings.
» The Fighting Illini took Indiana State pitchers deep three times on Tuesday.
    » Have three-homer games in two of last three.
» Illinois turned four double plays in the ballgame, a new season-high mark.
» Illinois pitchers limited Indiana State to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 45 Indiana State hitters in the game, allowing 14 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Indiana State pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
