March 16, 2006
Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES USE LONG BALL FOR 15-5 WIN OVER XAVIER

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State capitalized on a breeze blowing out to center field and jacked four home runs in a 15-5 drumming of Xavier on Thursday afternoon at Sycamore Field. It was the third straight win, and sixth in the last seven games as ISU improved to 7-5 on the year while the Musketeers fall to 5-11.

Play was highlighted by juniors Nevin Ashley and Adam Kumuda who both were 3-for-4 with four RBI. Kamuda made the most of his first start for the Sycamores with a home run in his first at-bat for ISU and a triple. Ashley, Tim Brewer and Jake Eigsti also chipped in with a long ball, giving ISU four home runs for the first time since April of 2003.

“I’m just happy that we were able to swing the bat, we really needed a day like that to distill that kind of confidence into the players,” head coach Bob Warn said after the game. “It showed what the team is all about, we don’t have to have everyone playing up to their best abilities when we can play well as a unit.”

The scoring started for the blue and white when Ashley hit the first homer of the day, a two-run shot that also scored Brewer. Indiana State would draw another three runs in the third inning off Kamuda’s three-run, two-out home run.

“We are pretty deep at the catching position and Kamuda really helped us out today,” Warn said of the catcher’s first start. “He showed great power today and I was just excited for him. He must be on Cloud Nine after today’s game.”

ISU continued with the long-ball in the fourth and fifth inning off the bats of Eigsti and Tim Brewer driving home three and two runs, respectively.

In the sixth inning, Indiana State would drive home three more runs off three extra base-hits, including two triples and a double. Overall, the Sycamores scored in each of the first six innings and added one more run in the ninth when a Kamuda single in Casey Martin from second.

The Sycamores finished with 14 hits, including 10 extra base hits, but did commit four errors in the field.

Chad Dawson picked up the win (1-1) after scattering eight hits over six innings and fanning five batters. For Xavier, Mark Janszen (0-2) only lasted three innings, giving up nine runs on six hits and five walks.

Indiana State will continue its home stand this weekend as they host Murray State for a three-game set beginning with a 3 p.m. contest on Friday afternoon.