April 21, 2007
Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES NIPPED BY CREIGHTON, 3-2 IN VALLEY CONTEST

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State starting pitcher, junior RHP Ryan Tatusko, gave up a pair of runs in the second inning, but he calmed down and did not allow another score until the eighth but it was not enough as the Sycamores fell 3-2 at Sycamore Field against the Creighton Bluejays.

ISU falls to 18-18, 2-9 MVC while the ‘Jays improve to 26-11, 11-3 MVC.

Tatusko struggled early in the game, but settled beginning in the third inning. He tossed 119 pitches, and it was that last one that did him in as he allowed a solo homer to Creighton’s Steve Winklemann in the top of the eighth in fall to 3-6 on the season. Tatusko finished with seven innings pitched, allowed nine hits and three earned runs. He walked three and struck out a trio of ‘Jays as well.

Josh Varno retired the lone batter he faced in the top of the eighth and Adam Lindsay came on to finish off the last 1.2 innings, giving just one hit and striking out one.

Josh Abercrombie went 3-for-5 on the day at the plate, one of three different Sycamores to enjoy multi-hit days versus Creighton. Chris Schmidt was 2-for-4 and Nick Ciolli stretched his eight game hitting streak out with a 2-for-5 outing. ISU’s 2-3-4 batters went 7-for-12 in the game.

The victory for Creighton went to Pat Venditte, tossed two innings, and allowed a pair of hits with a strikeout. Venditte is one of three collegiate baseball players who currently pitch from both the left and right sides on the mound. He improved to 5-2 with the victory while Andy Marten allowed one hit in the bottom of the ninth for his 11^th save.

ISU broke the ice in the bottom of the first when Abercrombie trotted to the plate from third on a wild pick off attempt from the Creighton pitcher Zach Moore.

ISU’s 1-0 advantage was washed away in the top of the second when the ‘Jays scored a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Dave Brumagin extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double down the left field line which plate Ciolli to knot the score at two.

Winklemann broke the deadlock in the eighth with his third home run of the season.

Both Indiana State and Creighton left 11 batters on base in the game. Creighton, who came into the series as one of the best defensive teams in the MVC, committed three errors, giving them a total of seven during the first two games of the weekend.

Indiana State and Creighton finish off the three-game MVC series tomorrow, April 22, with the final game at Sycamore Field on the weekend. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. (ET). The game can be heard live locally on WISU-FM (89.7).

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