ISU @ Bradley--Game Three (5/22)

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Before we get to the specifics of today's game, I thought you'd like to see this post from WestT on how the Tournament Seedings are looking going into today's play. Thanks WestT:


Just a look ahead to the MVC tournament...

MVC Standings

1. Illinois State -- 15-5
2. Wichita State -- 15-6
3. Indiana State -- 10-9
4. Southern Illinois -- 10-9
5. Evansville -- 9-11
6. Creighton -- 9-12
7. Bradley -- 7-13
8. Missouri State -- 5-15

Saturday's MVC Games

Indiana State at Bradley -- 2:00 p.m.
Illinois State at Evansville -- 2:00 p.m.
Southern Illinois at Missouri State -- 3:00 p.m.

Our Seed

If ISU wins their game Saturday, we are guaranteed to be the #3 seed in the tournament.

Even if we tie SIU in the standings, we still win the tiebreaker. The tie is broken based on our records against the top of the league and we win that no matter if Illinois State or Wichita State end up as the regular season champion (ISU went 1-2 against ILS, SIU went 0-3 / ISU went 2-1 against WSU, SIU went 1-2).

We cannot fall past the #4 seed, which would happen if we lose tomorrow and SIU wins against Missouri State.

Our Opponent

We will play either Evansville or Creighton in the first round of the tournament, although we do not know if it will be in the #3/#6 game or #4/#5 game. Check out the game outcomes below to see who we will face.

ISU wins, Illinois State wins -- #3 ISU vs. #6 Evansville
ISU wins, Evansville wins -- #3 ISU vs. #6 Creighton
ISU loses, SIU wins, Illinois State wins -- #4 ISU vs. #5 Creighton
ISU loses, SIU wins, Evansville wins -- #4 ISU vs. #5 Evansville
 
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With weather not an issue (let's hope) today, The Sycamores can follow their normal pre-game routine as they pre-pare for the rubber game of their three-game series against the Bradley Braves.

RHP Jason Van Skike (3-3, 4.66) will be matched up against Bradley's RHP Kori Jensen (5-3, 6.75) who has 23 K's in 41.1 innings. He also has given up 22 walks and has an opposing batting average of .358.

Lately, we have had problems with chasing starters, no matter what their qualifications. Today appears to be a good opportunity, especially if we can get guys on base who rattle Jensen's cage. Running on Bradley is the best way to do that...but first, we need baserunners. Perhaps our batters need to be more patient at the plate with this guy.

The weather today at the 1:00 p.m. (CT) game start is expected to be sunny and 77-degrees with light winds from the southwest. The tempurature will rise to 81 by game's end. Best weather we've played in all season!

Today's game will be available on WBOW (AM 1130 & 1300) and through Live Stats service. The link to both is below:

http://www.gosycamores.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15200&KEY=&SPID=7256&SPSID=65130
 
WBOW Pre-Game Show:

Coach Heller's Comments: "Yesterday's game was well-pitched. It was Joe's best outing of the year, as he pretty much dominated and could throw his change-up at will. We were able to get to Bircher late in his appearance and got after the relievers. Pearson was big both nights. He got the hit last night that sealed the game. Awesome job as a freshman. Our team has not been very good on Sundays this season. We need to get after them and pound the strike zone. Our guys are locked in this afternoon and are showing intensity."
 
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Game underway at 1:02 (CT) as Kori Jensen comes to the mound ...Straus (.355) grounds out to third...Burnam (.332) goes to 3-1 and walks... Fieser (.361) goes to full count singles to center and Burnam moves to third with one out...Fieser now 5 for 11 this weekend...Ort (.358) goes to 1-2 and strikes out swinging...Lucas (.331) who was 3 for 5 yesterday, goes to 3-1 and walks...bases loaded with two outs...Ferguson (.298) who is just 1 for 7 in this series, lines out to center field on first pitch. No Score.

Into the bottom of the first...Van Skike faces Fritz (.331) grounds out to Fieser at third...Elliott (.343) who is 3 for 5 this weekend and has a couple of stolen bases, flies out to right...Martin (.371) who is 4 for 7 in series, goes to 3-1 and walks with two outs, Martin has 23 steals in 31 attempts this season...Martin steals second...Sullivan (.311) goes to 0-2 count and flies out to Straus in center. No Score.
 
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Beautiful weather...81-degrees...light winds and sunny skies with just a few clouds floating by!

50th game of the season for both teams and the final game of the regular season.

Into the top of the second...Jensen faces Graham, Pearson and Ferrell...Graham (.271) goes to 0-2 hits a double off the left field wall...Pearson (.250) had major hits during each of the past two games, goes to an 0-2 count, then 1-2 and strikes out swinging...Ferrell (.297) grounds to third for out number two, Graham holds at second...Strausborger, who is 3 for 10 this weekend, pops out to second. No Score. Indiana State missing scoring chances in each of the first two innings, stranding three in the first and a lead-off double in the second.

Moving to the home-half of the second inning...Van Skike faces McMillan, Tauchman and Anderson... McMillan (.357) strikes out swinging...Tauchman (.275) lines to center and Straus makes a diving catch...Anderson (.556, but is only 5 for 9 on the season) fouls out to Fieser at third. No Score.
 
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Quickly moving to the top of the third...Jensen faces Burnam, Fieser and Ort... Burnam, who has drawn four walks this weekend, goes to 1-2 (Heller barks at the home plate ump over the calls), then goes 2-2 and strikes out looking...Fieser lines a single to left...Ort goes to gets infield hit and throwing error by Fritz at second sends runners to second and third...Lucas goes to 0-2, then 1-2 and strikes out swinging...Jensen's fourth K today...looking for a big hit from someone as we're putting guys in scoring position in each inning...Ferguson pops out to second. Still No Score!

Moving into the bottom of the third...Van Skike faces Compitello (.240) who is 1 for 7 in series, flies out to shallow center...Leblebijian (.322) who is 0-7 in series, goes to 1-2, hits a double over Burnam's head in left...first Bradley hit of day...Fritz single to center, Leblebijian scores, Fritz moves to second on the thrown home from Straus...Elliott flies out to center, Fritz holds at second...two outs...Martin, most productive of weekend at 4 for 7, lines singles to center, Fritz scores...third hit of inning for Braves, who lead 2-0...Wild Pitch by Van Skike sends Martin to second...Van Skike usually has one bad inning on each outing this season...Sullivan goes to 3-1 count and grounds out to Pearson at second. Braves lead 2-0.
 
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Going to the top of the fourth...ISU needs to get the clutch hits to score the men they get in scoring position, as they have left runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings...Jensen faces Graham, Pearson and Ferrell...Graham goes to 3-2 and walks to lead-off the inning...Pearson lines a double to right-center field gap...runners at second and third...trainer goes out to right to check on Compitello who went down after fielding the ball in right-center, will stay in game...two runners in scoring position with no outs...Ferrell singles to right, Graham and Pearson score...tied at 2-2...Ferrell has been a solid clutch hitter this season...still no outs...Straus flies out to center, Ferrell holds at first...Burnam grounds to second, fielder's choice, Ferrell out at second... two outs...Fieser grounds to third on first pitch for out number three. Score tied at 2-2.

Into the bottom of the fourth...Van Skike will look to settle down after a tough third inning as he faces McMillan, Tauchman and Anderson...McMillan (0 for 8 on wknd) flies out to the center field track and Straus makes a good catch...Tauchman flies out to Burnam in left just in front of the track ...Anderson goes to 0-2 and singles to left-center with two outs...Compitello bunts to third, Fieser makes a great throw and Ort makes a great scoop at first for final out...interesting note that Bradley has had two fly-outs to the outfield in each of the first four innings. Score tied at 2-2.
 
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Into the top of the fifth inning...Jake Hartley will come into the game for Robbie Ort who has been nursing a sore wrist...Hartley grounds out to Fritz at second...Lucas grounds out to Elliott at third and Lucas is tagged on the shoulder for the second out...Ferguson goes to 0-2, then 2-2 and singles to right...Sycamores seventh hit today...Ferguson thrown out trying to steal second, close call argued by Heller, looked to be safe. Score tied at 2-2.

Into the bottom of the fifth, Van Skike will face Leblebijian, Fritz and Elliott...Leblebijian, who doubled and scored in the third, goes to 3-1 count and batter is hit...Fritz is hit in the back, Leblebijian goes to second...two on with no outs...Merkley warms in pen...Herbst comes to mound... stalling to get Merkley loose...Elliott bunts down third base line, Van Skike slips, ruled a base hit...bases loaded with no outs...Martin grounds to third, runner forced out at home (5-2) for first out, bases remain loaded...Sullivan, who leads team with 38 RBI's, goes to 3-1 count, then 3-2 and strikes out swinging!...two outs...passed ball on Lucas brings Leblebijian across the plate...McMillan flies out to left to end inning. Bradley leads 3-2.
 
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Into the top of the sixth, Jensen will face Graham, Pearson and Ferrell...Graham singled to right for a single...Graham has reached first in all three appearances today as a lead-off hitter...action in BU pen...Pearson bunts to Jensen and reaches first on error, Graham moves to second...Ferrell sac bunts to Jensen...runners move to second and third...Strausborger grounds out to second, Graham scores and Peason advances to third...Burnam singles to left, Pearson scores...ISU leads 4-3... Fieser up with two outs and runners on the corners...Fieser grounds out to second. ISU leads 4-3.

Into the bottom of the sixth, Tauchman, Anderson and Compitello will face Van Skike...Tauchman goes to 1-2 and flies out to shallow center...Colvin will pinch-hit for Anderson...Colvin had a pinch-hit double yesterday...Colvin (.286) goes to 3-0 count and walks on four straight pitches...BUT Colvin is called out after Heller talks to home plate umpire telling him that Colvin failed to report to the umpire, so it is considered batting out of order!...two outs...Compitello goes to 2-2 and strikes out swinging. Sycamores lead 4-3.
 
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Into the top of the seventh, the Sycamores REALLY need some insurance runs, like yesterday as they send Hartley, Lucas and Ferguson...New Pitcher is Jacob Booden (3-4, 4.24)...Merkley continues to warm in the Sycamore pen...Hartley grounds to Fritz at second for out number one... Lucas grounds out to first...Ferguson lines out to second. Retired in order for first time today. ISU leads 4-3.

We REALLY need those insurance runs!

Going to the bottom of the seventh...Leblebijian, Fritz and Elliott face new pitcher for ISU, Brett Merkley (1-2, 4.26 in 19 innings)...Leblebijian grounds out to short on the first pitch he sees... Fritz, who has scored two of Bradley's three runs today, grounds out sharply to Ferrell at short...Elliott bunts to Merkley and gets a base hit...one on with two outs...Elliott steals second--third stolen base in series...Flora throwing in ISU pen...Martin goes to 1-2 count, then 2-2 and grounds out to Fieser. ISU leads 4-3.
 
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In the top of the eighth, Booden to face Graham, who leads off for the fourth time today...Graham goes to 1-2 count, the 2-2 and grounds out to second...Graham retired for first time today... Pearson bunts to third and is thrown out...Ferrell goes to 0-2, then 2-2 and strikes out looking. ISU leads 4-3.

Into the bottom of the eighth...Sullivan, McMillan and Tauchman face Merkley...streaker runs across left field and hops over fence!...Sullivan goes to 3-2 count and grounds out to Ferrell at short... McMillan (0-for 3 today and 0-10 in series) hits a ball over head of Burnam, McMillan gets to second safely but is tagged out for coming off the bag and getting tagged...Tauchman hits a home run to left, making the out at second HUGE...score tied 4-4...two outs...Colvin goes to 1-2 and strikes out looking. Score tied at 4-4.
 
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Looks like ISU Relief Pitching will again have the opportunity for redemption...

HR off Merkley blows another opportunity for ISU relief pitching. Wish Merkley would've followed the "streaker!"
 
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Into the ninth, Booden, who has retired all six batters he's faced, faces Straus, Burnam and Fieser...Strausborger goes to 3-1 and walks...Straus called out stealing second for only the fourth time this season...one away... Burnam hits a double over the left fielder's head...Strausborger being called out stealing was BIG...Fieser (6 for 14 this wknd) flies out to left, Burnam holds at second... two outs...Hartley grounds out to second. Score remains tied at 4-4.

Moving to the bottom of the ninth, Scott Harlan will face Compitello, Leblebijian and Fritz...Pinch-Hitting for Compitello is Christian Segar...Segar goes to 0-2, then 1-2 and base hit grounder to left... Leblebijian sac bunt to Harlan, Segar moves to second... Fritz (2 for 8 on wknd) goes to 3-1 count and walks...New Pitcher is Tyler Browning...Elliott hit by Browning...bases loaded...need strikeout or doubleplay or an out at home...Martin sac flies to center, winning run scores. Bradley wins 5-4

ISU ends season at 10 and 10 in conference play and 33-17 overall.

Booden (4-4) gets win. Harlan (3-3) takes the loss.
 
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well, so much for ending the season on a positive note, lost the last 2 series of the season to teams below ISU in MVC play. Not good. gotta hope for better in the tourney at WSU. ISU is not heading in the right direction.

sheesh....

3-2 SIU leads in the 5th in Springpatch

9-5 UE winning in the 8th down south

http://www.sidearmstats.com/evansville/baseball/index.htm
 
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Here we go, losing another one-run game...the 26th game this season decided by one or two runs. We can't keep playing on the edge, especially this coming week. We had a lot of missed scoring opportunities early in this game.
 
Brian Smiley on Post-Game show: We missed a lot of scoring opportunities today. There hasn't been any loses this year that could have been wins. Could have won all three games this weekend. Need offense. Second year of 30 or more wins. We have the talent to make the regionals. Need all three starters to be effective and need more offense, especially with runners on base.
 
ISUCC said:
MSU beat SIU 6-5, so ISU backs into the 3 seed for the MVC tourney I think
Click to expand...

Correct, ISU is the third seed and will play Creighton in the first round.

Illinois State and Bradley is the other game in our bracket.
 
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