Sycamores To Face Missouri State For MVC Weekend Action: ISU sweeps series

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Jason Svoboda

Jason Svoboda

The Bird Level
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Indiana State is now 24-16, 4-5 MVC after dropping three to MVC-leading, ranked Dallas Baptist. The Sycamores kept both Friday and Saturday's games within reach, even leading the Patriots in all three weekend games before falling in late innings. The Sycamores out-hit the Patriots in Saturday's game and had equal hits on Friday night.

Read more at GoSycamores...
 
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Rarely will you see two (2) of the Nation's top HR hitters on the same team, but in sophomore 3Ber JAKE BURGER (17 HR's/tied for #1) and senior OFer SPENCER JOHNSON (14 HR's/tied w/ Darick Hall of DBU for #8), MO St. has two of the BEST.

Might be a good idea to be camped over in Woodlawn Cemetery for Friday & Saturday!:scaredtodeath:

* MO St has a 52-21 advantage over ISU in HR's this season.
* Sycamore pitching has rendered 23 MVC HR's this season v. 12 for MO St.
* In the "Hits" category, the #1 Bears lead #2 ISU 407 to 401.But in "Runs Scored," they hold a massive #1- 302 to #5-236 advantage.
* Sycamores simply not getting the job done w/ men on base. ISU leads the conference in "Grounding into Double Plays" @ 32, as opposed to MSU's 17.
* ISU is #6 at gathering a BB (139) v. MO St.'s #2 (192). Wichita State is #1 (195).
* Sycamore hitters are best @ NOT striking out (224) v. IL St.'s #1 (326).
* Sycamore runners are #1 in being "gunned down" on the basepaths (18) v. MO St.'s (8).
* Sycamores are just above the last place Shox in giving up walks, 161 v. 182.

The Bears have lost six (6) of their last nine (9) games, including MVC foes Bradley (2-1), Wichita St. (1-2) and UE (1-2). Very similar to ISU, their pitching of late has fallen on hard times...especially in the bullpen.
 
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BankShot said:
Rarely will you see two (2) of the Nation's top HR hitters on the same team, but in sophomore 3Ber JAKE BURGER (17 HR's/tied for #1) and senior OFer SPENCER JOHNSON (14 HR's/tied w/ Darick Hall of DBU for #8), MO St. has two of the BEST.

Might be a good idea to be camped over in Woodlawn Cemetery for Friday & Saturday!:scaredtodeath:
Click to expand...

Sounds like odds are we'll see a "grave yard smash" or two over the course of three games this weekend!
 
bluepower said:
Sounds like odds are we'll see a "grave yard smash" or two over the course of three games this weekend!
Click to expand...

If I was betting man...:angel:. Amidst all the "gloom & doom" I presented, both Keaffaber & Ward have been throwing "decent" for ISU. Our two (2) one (1) run losses to DBU last weekend are proof. We've just got to see more dependability from relief pitchers, who simply CAN'T protect an ISU lead. ISU must be MORE PRODUCTIVE with the runners on base. Hard to play "small ball" when you can't even depend on your BEST BUNTER to get his bat on the ball, which is WHY Guterriez was left in "no man's land" and picked off 3rd base last weekend while representing the game-tying run.

ISU still has the best "D" in the MVC & are #2 in overall team ERA...which is enough to keep us in the games. It's those LOB's that are killing us.
 
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Don't know what to expect in this series, I really don't. Same for the season. Do the good guys show up and refuse to lose or do the ho hum just another game crew make an appearance?
 
Ya, it's that "ho hum" mentality @ the dish w/ men on base that is disturbing. These guys don't understand the concept of "urgency." I'll be watching ESPN3 (Texas v. TCU, FL v. Miami, etc.) and when batters are taking their on-deck cuts, you can see their VEINS POPPING...primed for the forthcoming "spotlight." When they step into the box, there's a "no bullshit" arrogance about their presence - a non-verbal cue to the opposition that they're in a "kick-ass mode." ISU's approach reminds me of the "cotton candy" salesman @ the Shrine Circus when he's handing you the paper cone. Never seen a squad strand so many base runners...

Any word on the injury status of CHRIS AYERS? Last weekend, a comment was made re: being out two weeks. We can ill-afford his loss in LF. Neither Gardner or Gutierrez have the SPEED to cover the territory as good as Ayers, and there's no comparison re: the stick, as Ayers can hit w/ power and was making contact on a regular basis when hurt while stretching a double into a triple...kid can fly on the bases and @ 6'2", can cover a lot of ground on that stride of his.

Like DBU, MO St. usually brings a good following on that 8 hr. ride from Springfield. Enthusiastic and well-versed fans, which is what one would expect from S. Baptists! They won't be "happy campers" after dropping 2of 3 to UE @ Hammons Field last weekend.
 
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TYPICAL - Trailing 4-3 in 4th inning, runners at 2 & 3 with NOBODY out - Result nada, zero, absolutely nothing. Caught looking a gift-horse in the mouth AGAIN.
 
Sycamores sweep the Bears today with two 1 run wins (7-6) (2-1)

It wasn't pretty, but it's nice to be on the win side of a 1 run game for a change
 
Big wins...particular Game 1. Both teams were terrible getting runs across, 15 LOBS for ISU v. 14 for Mo St. Clutch double by the "Goose" to plate the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 9th for the win. We need MORE of this "clutch" play throughout the game. LOB's are a "disease" that erodes team confidence.

BTW, MSU's 3B Burger (18 HR's - #1 Nationally) parked one in Woodlawn Cemetery. This will be his last year - currently ranked as the 3rd best 3B in America as a soph. & will no doubt go high in the '16 MLB Draft.

Game 2 saw Tyler Ward keeping the ball down w/ no MSU HR's. McKinney threw 2 fine innings in relief for the save...1st in a long time that an ISU reliever has set down the opposition. Hopefully a good sign.

Saturday - MVC Results & Standings

http://www.d1baseball.com/conferences/mvc.htm

***IL St.'s Steve Heilenbach is making a statement for MVC Pitcher of the Year, last night holding hard-hitting UE to only 4-hits in a 4-0 shutout.
The Aces came back to win Game #2, 4-3 in 11 innings in E-ville.
 
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Baseball Clinches Series Win Over No. 23 Missouri State

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Sycamore Baseball improved to 26-16 overall, and 6-5 in MVC play, as they took two games from No. 23 Missouri State (28-13, 3-7 MVC) during Friday's doubleheader. The Sycamores out-hit the Bears 19-16 on the day, while junior Jeremy McKinney picked up a 7-6 win in game one and a save in game two. Freshman Tyler Ward improved to 6-3 on the mound in the Sycamores' 2-1 game two win. The two wins mark the third and fourth wins over ranked opponents for the 2016 season.

Read more at GoSycamores...
 
Additional Friday DH Thoughts

:rabidfan:Add another Sycamore that knows how to "bunt" to the prior list of three (3). 1st yr. player DANE TOFTELAND now joins Kaden Moore, Tyler Friis and Andy Young in this illustrious "King of Small Ball" category. As this list grows, the # of LOB's for ISU will decrease, thus enhancing the WIN column. Tofteland has matured considerably at the plate since last Fall and will no doubt push for a starting role (3B/OF) next season.

The CUSA (Conference USA) Umpires continue to amaze the crowd. In the 1st inning of Game 1, the plate umpire blew a "checked swing" by Hunter Owen on a 3rd strike, which brought Coach Hannahs out of the dugout for a "lengthy" conference. The call was not even close, and the Umpire-in Chief refused to get help from the 1B Umpire. In addition, Hannahs requested "clarification" by the 1B Umpire on a blown call, primarily because of his POOR ANGULATION. A pointer to good umpiring...you MUST have an angle on EVERY call, which requires re-positioning on EVERY play, depending on the position of fielder and his throw to the bag. You can't always see the play developing if if you're "camped out" on the RF line behind 1B. Same w/ positioning on the cut & around the 3B line by Umpire #3.

During Game 2, the new scoreboard FAILED to show the stats. of Mo. St. players. According to John Sherman, it was a "computer glitch" associated w/ Mo. St.'s hardware. Good thing that I copied the #'s off my PC before the game. I guess the scoreboard s-ware doesn't allow for "personal upgrades." Where's 'Boda when ya need him?:sos:

Good to see a number of ISU Lady Hoop players & Softball players @ Friday's DH. They no doubt add "spirit" to the atmosphere. Also credit to an incoming freshman from Owen Valley HS, whose loud "hooting" calls are seeming contagious among the bleacher bums! Maybe this kid should anchor a "Baseball Division" of The Forest?:munch: Starting to finally feel like a baseball game...

As predicted, the Bears brought a good following for the series. It was good to see starting 2B/Jr./Belleville, IL native Aaron Meyer's grandfather & family.

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/aaron_meyer_860532.html

1st met them during the 2014 regular & post-season MVC Tournament, while Meyer was a freshman. Like any baseball-devoted grandfather, he has upgraded his camera, adding a $1,000 zoom lens to his arsenal!
 
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Today's Baseball Game Postponed Until Sunday

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Today's final game of the series with visiting No. 23 Missouri State has been postponed. Game three will now take place on Sunday, April 30 with a 1:00 p.m. ET at Bob Warn Field.

Read more at GoSycamores...
 
up 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th, be nice to get a 3 game sweep of MSU after being swept last weekend by DBU
 
Sycamores win 4-2 and sweep #23 (not for long) Missouri State, a rare sweep of the Bears I presume.
 

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good to know. Southern Illinois beat Wichita State today, and Illinois State is up on Evansville. If ILS can hang on we'll be tied for 2nd in the MVC with a big series at Wichita State looming next weekend
 
Bradley wins series v. DBU, 2-1...Bradley is DANGEROUS, and we play in Peoria the week after this weekends Wichita State series in Kansas.

http://dbupatriots.com/news/2016/4/30/baseball-patriots-drop-series-to-bradley-in-2-1-walk-off.aspx

I mentioned a couple weeks ago about BOTH IL St. & Bradley being "cold weather" squads & late comers in the MVC. It's now happening...

Spoke w/ the father of Mo St. 3Ber JAKE BURGER Sunday. He's a Jasper, IN native and played Baseball @ UE, recalling the '84 ISU squad w/ RHP Paul Quinzer (Newburgh/Castle HS) that went to the Finals in Omaha that season. .Burger now resides in the far western 'burb of St. Louis.

Sycamore's silenced Burger's nation-leading HR (18) stick after Game 1, providing multiple intentional BB's to minimize damage...

Looks like CLAY DUNGAN will be our regular replacement for injured LFer CHRIS AYERS. Dungan got a couple key hits in the series and took a HR away from "Wild Man" Spencer Johnson (14 HR's) late in the game.

http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=114663
 
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Sycamores Sweep No. 23 Missouri State

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Indiana State Baseball improved to 27-16 overall, 7-5 in MVC play after securing a series win on Friday, before downing No. 23 Missouri State in game three this afternoon to earn the sweep. The Sycamores defeated the Bears by a final score of 4-2, as sophomore Ethan Larrison picked up his second win of the season, and junior Jeremy McKinney earned his seventh save.

Read more at GoSycamores...
 
Illinois State did beat Evansville in 10, so ISU is now tied for 2nd, needed to win one of those DBU games last weekend.
 
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