Down to the final two tune-up games, today and Wednesday, before conference play opens at home against Bradley this weekend.
ISU visits Valparaiso today at 4:00 (ET). Cool weather expected with partly cloudy skies and 51-degrees likely at first pitch. Winds will be from the west at 5-15 mph.
ISU has won nine of their last 10 games, with all nine wins coming on their home field. Indiana State's 9-1 stretch has been led by their pitching rotation, one that has tallied a 1.89 staff ERA since March 18.
Sophomores Koby Kraemer (.425, 17 hits, 11 RBI) and Robby Ort (.368, four triples, two home runs, 18 RBI) have led ISU at the plate over that same 10-game span, as the Sycamores have tallied 44 extra-base hits (29 doubles, 11 triples, four home runs) while playing defense at a .976 clip in the field.
Valparaiso has won five of their last eight, including a series victory last weekend in the Horizon League against Illinois - Chicago, to push their season record to 6-20 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League. VU began their season with 22 straight games on the road, racking up a 4-18 record as the visitors, while going 2-1 at home in their series win over UIC. The Sycamores and Crusaders have both played Butler to this point in the season, with ISU topping BU, 15-3, on March 23, while VU won one out of three games during a weekend series in Indianapolis on March 25-26.
As a team, VU is hitting .229 this season while their pitching rotation checks in with a 5.27 team ERA. Individually, the Crusaders are led by do-everything junior outfielder Kyle Gaedele. Gaedele leads Valparaiso in batting average (.303 -- 30-for-99), doubles (seven), home runs (three), RBIs (19) and stolen bases (16-for-17) this season. Senior southpaw Jon Gulbransen (2-4, 5.53 ERA) will take the mound against the Sycamores on Tuesday, making his team-leading ninth start of the season.
On the bump today for ISU will be freshman LHP Sean Manaea (3-2, 3.71 ERA). Coach Heller says Manaea is improving consistantly making his current won/loss record and ERA inconsistant with how he's really doing. Valpo will throw LHP Jon Gulbransen (2-4, 5.53 ERA).
Today's game will be available through live stats and Twitter. Audio will be available through www.valpoathletics.com.
A new feature is a live blog allowing fans to interact with a moderator during the game. Here's the link to today's blog:
http://www.gosycamores.com/ViewArtic...CLID=205130008
ISU visits Valparaiso today at 4:00 (ET). Cool weather expected with partly cloudy skies and 51-degrees likely at first pitch. Winds will be from the west at 5-15 mph.
ISU has won nine of their last 10 games, with all nine wins coming on their home field. Indiana State's 9-1 stretch has been led by their pitching rotation, one that has tallied a 1.89 staff ERA since March 18.
Sophomores Koby Kraemer (.425, 17 hits, 11 RBI) and Robby Ort (.368, four triples, two home runs, 18 RBI) have led ISU at the plate over that same 10-game span, as the Sycamores have tallied 44 extra-base hits (29 doubles, 11 triples, four home runs) while playing defense at a .976 clip in the field.
Valparaiso has won five of their last eight, including a series victory last weekend in the Horizon League against Illinois - Chicago, to push their season record to 6-20 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League. VU began their season with 22 straight games on the road, racking up a 4-18 record as the visitors, while going 2-1 at home in their series win over UIC. The Sycamores and Crusaders have both played Butler to this point in the season, with ISU topping BU, 15-3, on March 23, while VU won one out of three games during a weekend series in Indianapolis on March 25-26.
As a team, VU is hitting .229 this season while their pitching rotation checks in with a 5.27 team ERA. Individually, the Crusaders are led by do-everything junior outfielder Kyle Gaedele. Gaedele leads Valparaiso in batting average (.303 -- 30-for-99), doubles (seven), home runs (three), RBIs (19) and stolen bases (16-for-17) this season. Senior southpaw Jon Gulbransen (2-4, 5.53 ERA) will take the mound against the Sycamores on Tuesday, making his team-leading ninth start of the season.
On the bump today for ISU will be freshman LHP Sean Manaea (3-2, 3.71 ERA). Coach Heller says Manaea is improving consistantly making his current won/loss record and ERA inconsistant with how he's really doing. Valpo will throw LHP Jon Gulbransen (2-4, 5.53 ERA).
Today's game will be available through live stats and Twitter. Audio will be available through www.valpoathletics.com.
A new feature is a live blog allowing fans to interact with a moderator during the game. Here's the link to today's blog:
http://www.gosycamores.com/ViewArtic...CLID=205130008
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