Eastern Kentucky @ ISU (3/20)--Game 3--Win 14-5!

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bluepower

Baseball Mod
After nearly playing a doubleheader yesterday, The Sycamores will re-group today, hoping for continued solid pitching, BUT somehow get the bats going. That appears to be the biggest concern right now. Coach Brian Smiley says the key is getting solid pitching and runs early in the game. He says ideally, we need to see 6-7 runs per game.

Sean Manaea will take the ball for ISU today at 1:00 (ET). Manaea has been looking good. Last week he gave up two runs on four hits in six innings of work.

The weather looks pretty good...but there is a chance of showers or thunderstorms in the area during the game. The high will be in the low 60's with southerly winds at 5-15 mph with gusts to 20. That should favor home run balls.

Today's game is available on Twitter, on-line on WISU Radio and through live stats service.

I won't be around the computer for much of the game, so feel free to post scores, exceptional plays and your comments!
 
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Score is 3-3 after 4.5 innings. All of ISU's runs scored in the first on Ort's three-run opposite field homer to left. All of EKU's runs scored in the fourth.
 
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In bottom of sixth, Hartley walks...advances to third on a couple of ground-outs...and then scores on Adma Richart's first collegiate hit and his first RBI. ISU leads 4-3 after six.
 
In top of seventh, Manaea still on mound with 94 pitches. Merkley in pen. First batter gets a single. Merkley on to pitch. Merkley had a solid three-inning stint last weekend, giving up no runs, no hits and just one walk. First batter wiffs! Wild pitch advances runner to second. Next batter strikes out looking! Two outs. Next batter grounds out to second. Score still 4-3.

Bottom of seventh...Burnam hit by pitch. Third Sycamore hit today. Burnam advances to third on failed pick-off error by the pitcher. Burnam scores on dropped fly ball by left-fielder. New EKU pitcher. Now 5-3. Ort does get an RBI because the hit was deep enough to be considered a sacrifice fly. Kraemer grounds to short. One out. Hedges single to left to plate Ort from second. Now 6-3. Hedges steals second. Hartley strikes out. Wampler gets an infield single. Runners at first and third. Sycs now have eight hits on the day. Pearson strikes out. Now 6-3 in favor of ISU.
 
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Sycamores looking for their first home series sweep since beating Western Michigan in a four game sweep in 2010. All four of those games were decided by one run...with game four going 13 innings.
 
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Top of eighth, Merkley gives up two singles...and Machado comes on in relief with runners at second and third with no outs. Single to left plates a run...but the batter tried to stretch the single into a double and was thrown out. One out. Runner at third. Base hit into the left-center gap plates another run. Now 6-5. Brandon Flora on to relieve Machado. Flora has a zero ERA in seven appearances totalling 4.1 innings. Flora is a left-handed batter specialist. Runner at first steals second. Left-handed batter strikes out! New pitcher is Blake Drake. Drake got the win yesterday after pitching one shutout inning at the top of the 15th! Drake gets the strikeout to end the threat! ISU leads 6-5.

Bottom of eighth...Richart safe at first on error by third baseman. Third error is the later innings by EKU. New Pitcher. A leftie to face the three ISU left-handed batters. Hileman is safe at first as he bunts back to pitcher and the ball handling is muffed. Runners at first and second with no outs. Runners advance on a wild pitch! Burnam walks. Bases loaded with no outs. Ort triples to right-center to unload bases! Now 9-5. Ort has seven RBI's on day! Still no outs. Kraemer singles. Ort scores. Hedges walks. Score now 10-5. Runners on first and second with no outs. First six ISU batters have reached safely...but only two had hits. Another new pitcher. Hartley walks for second time today to load bases. Both times on four straight pitches. Wampler grounds to second, runner thrown out at plate. Bases still loaded with one out. Walterhouse on to pinch hit for Pearson. Walterhouse singles to center and two runs score! Now 12-5. Still ANOTHER pitching change for EKU, a guy who played for the Terre Haute Rex! Richart singles to left for two more runs! Now 14-5. One out, runner at first. Hileman flies out to center. Two outs. Burnam is up again. Burnam lines out to short. Inning over. Now 14-5.
 
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Drake back on to pitch final frame of the game. His second straight game finish, as he got the win in the 15th yesterday. First batter strikes out swinging. Second batter hbp. Game-ending 4-6-3 doubleplay. Final score 14-5.
 
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Brian Smiley Post Game Show:

Sean Manaea gets the win. Sycamores now 9-9 on the season. Good to see we started out strong in the first. EKU is a good team that is just not playing well. Its easy to go to sleep on Sunday, especially when you're headed for a series sweep. We saw that a little last year. Go for the throat and finish them off. Manaea got hit a little more than he normally does. One of his biggest woes is giving free bases by walks and hit batters. They did hit him around a little bit but kept his composure. This is a learning process for Sean. Keep heading the right direction and he will be something very special in the future. Next opponent is Illinois-Springfield (Tuesday at 6:00) and they are a first-year program. Not expecting a seasoned opponent. Butler comes in on Wednesday at 3:00.
 
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EKU is a hapless baseball team right now. They have lost all 11 road games this season and have little firepower on offense. It would be best for ISU to not get too puffed up after this four-game sweep.
 
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In the above video, Coach Heller confirms what rgd said...that Ferguson may be lost for the season. No word concerning Tyler Browning's injury or the length of Jeremy Lucas' absence from behind the plate.
 
Hope this was the weekend series that picks up the team's momentum. Let's get well above .500 now!
 
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