| BOCA RATON, Fla. – A back-and-forth affair saw Indiana State come out on top in the end, topping No. 20 Florida Atlantic University baseball on Thursday, 7-5. QuotableHead Coach John McCormack: “Until we start pitching better, (losses) are going to happen. They scored seven runs, six were on walks or hit-by-pitch … Their guys pitched really well, I really appreciate from a collegiate baseball – or any baseball – standpoint, they weren’t afraid, they didn’t pitch around, they went after guys.” The Beginning FAU (8-4) took a 3-0 lead in their first turn, on a Bobby Morgensen blast to right-center in his first start back in six games. But ISU (8-4) clawed back to tie with three of their own – one in the second and two in the third. The Turning Point The Sycamores took the lead on a wild pitch in the fourth and added on with an RBI single in the sixth. Steven Loden tied it up momentarily with two-run single in the FAU seventh, but a walk-sacrifice bunt-single swung the momentum back to ISU in the top of the eighth. The Finish With runners at second and third in the home eighth, ISU got a key strikeout to keep their one-run edge. They added another run in their next turn, and utilized another punchout – of the tying run at the plate – in the bottom of the ninth. The ArmsJavi Rivera started and went three inningsCombining for a scoreless seventh – the only inning ISU didn’t score, other than the first – were Thomas Haggerty and Dylan O’ConnellHunter Cooley (2-1) took the lossThe BatsMorgensen’s home run was his third of 2021 and 17th as an OwlHis three RBI gives him 10 on the year, becoming the fourth FAU player to reach double digitsLoden’s two RBI were the first in his FAU careerWilfredo Alvarez had his second straight two-hit showing, third straight multi-hit game, and sixth such effort of the seasonB.J. Murray walked in the sixth and has reached base in 15 straight games What’s Next Game two between the Owls and Sycamores is at 6:30 p.m. again tomorrow, Friday night. That game has reached capacity already. As of Thursday night, tickets remain for Saturday. Get tickets on FAU’s baseball tickets website or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS. |
