MVC Week 3 Round Up

Results from around the MVC during week three:

Indiana State took two-of-three at Wichita State, winning game one 9-3 and game two 7-3. WSU took game three 10-2 (6).

Illinois State swept all three from Missouri State in Normal, IL. Scores were 5-2, 8-0 (5), and 7-2.

Drake swept all three from Evansville in Des Moines, IA. Scores were 6-5, 10-2 (5), and 7-6 (9).

Creighton took two-of-three from Bradley in Omaha, NE. Creighton won game one 7-1 and game two 4-3 (8) before Bradley took game three 9-4.

Northern Iowa took two-of-three from Southern Illinois in Cedar Falls, IA. The Panthers won game one 1-0 (8) and game three 9-5 with SIU winning game two 6-2.

Also, this past Tuesday saw Bradley and Illinois State play the last game of their three game series. The Redbirds finished off the series sweep with a 3-2 victory in Normal, IL.

Current MVC Standings:

1. Drake 8-0, 22-12

2. Illinois State 7-1, 21-11

3. Northern Iowa 6-3, 22-15

3. Southern Illinois 4-2, 20-12

3. Creighton 4-2, 14-16

6. Missouri State 4-4, 14-15

7. Indiana State 2-6, 11-17

7. Wichita State 2-6, 9-26

9. Bradley 1-7, 8-28

10. Evansville 1-8, 7-27

Weekend Match-ups: Evansville at Indiana State; Creighton at Missouri State; Drake at Wichita State; Bradley at Southern Illinois; Northern Iowa at Illinois State.

GO SYCAMORES!

Sycs Win Series in Wichita

The Sycamores won their MVC series against Wichita State over the weekend, sweeping the Saturday double header before dropping the final game on Sunday to the Shockers. With the series win, that makes four consecutive seasons ISU has won the conference series with the Shockers, and five of the last six years. ISU is now 8-3 in the last 11 regular season contests played with Wichita.

In game one, the Sycamores jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back, winning by a final score of 9-3. Fr. Alex Baumgart and Fr. Shelby Wilson each had two hits in the victory, while Jr. Bailey Wittenauer had the big blow, a three run home run in the fourth inning. So. Sara Evans got the win in the circle for ISU, allowing three runs on six hits in the complete game victory.

In game two, WSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but ISU found its offense late in the game, scoring a run in the fourth before getting three runs in both the fifth and sixth to get a come-from-behind 7-3 win. Wittenauer led the offense with three hits, Jr. Stephanie Robinson and Jr. Hailey Tinsman each added two hits in the win. So. Kristen Felker picked up the win, allowing two earned runs while scattering nine hits in the complete game victory.

Sunday, Wichita broke open a close game late to salvage a win in the series with a 10-2 run rule victory in 6 innings. ISU had chances to build a big lead early in the game, but the Sycamores left the bases loaded in the first inning and runners on 2nd and 3rd in the second inning. Those missed opportunities proved costly later, as Wichita broke out for three runs in the 5th and 6 runs in the 6th for a come-from-behind 10-2 victory. Jr. Chelsea Wallace took the loss for ISU, with Wilson having two hits for the Sycamores and Wittenauer driving in both runs.

Wednesday, the Sycamores traveled to Cape Girardeau, MO for a mid-week non conference double header with Southeast Missouri State. Despite getting 11 hits in game one, including a grand slam home run by Wittenauer and a 2 run home run from Sr. Steph Jonson, ISU fell 10-8. Wallace took the loss for ISU. The second game was all tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the 6th inning, but the Redhawks hit back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the inning, causing the Sycamores to drop the nightcap by a 4-2 margin. Evans took the loss in the game.

This weekend, the Sycamores return to Terre Haute for a big MVC series with in-state rival Evansville. The Aces come to town currently in last place in the standings, while ISU sits in 7th.

GO SYCAMORES!

MVC Week 2 Round Up

Weather caused some issues to the MVC softball schedule over the weekend. Here are the results (Number in parentheses is place in PreSeason Poll):

Missouri State (5) at Indiana State (9): Bears sweep two games from the Sycamores by scores of 6-1 and 6-1.

Illinois State (T1) at Wichita State (8): Shockers and Redbirds split a pair of games, with Wichita winning 4-3 and Illinois State winning 10-1.

Drake (3) at Bradley (10): Bulldogs sweep a pair from the Braves, winning 6-1 and 3-2.

Northern Iowa (4) at Evansville (7): In the only full series to be played, the Panthers sweep all three from the Aces by scores of 6-2, 8-0, and 3-2.

Southern Illinois (T1) at Creighton (6): No games played in this series, as all three games canceled due to weather.

Current Standings:

T1. Southern Illinois 3-0, 18-10

T1. Drake 5-0, 18-12

3. Missouri State 4-1, 13-11

4. Illinois State 4-1, 16-11

5. Northern Iowa 4-2, 18-13

6. Creighton 2-1, 12-15

7. Wichita State 1-4, 8-22

8. Evansville 1-5, 7-22

T9. Indiana State 0-5, 9-14

T9. Bradley 0-4, 7-24

This weekend's match-ups: Indiana State at Wichita State; Southern Illinois at Northern Iowa; Evansville at Drake; Bradley at Creighton; Missouri State at Illinois State.

The NCAA has started to release RPI numbers for the 2011 season. Here are the current MVC numbers through March 27:

39. Illinois State

62. Missouri State

68. Drake

75. Southern Illinois

106. Northern Iowa

131. Creighton

196. Indiana State

204. Evansville

207. Bradley

208. Wichita State

GO SYCAMORES!

Bears Maul Sycamores

ISU opened the home portion of their MVC slate by taking on the Missouri State Bears last weekend. Due to cold - and I mean COLD - temperatures, only two games were played in the series, with Missouri State winning Saturday by a 6-1 margin and again Sunday with a 6-1 score. Not many highlights to talk about, as the Bears jumped out to leads in the 1st inning of both games. The Sycamores managed four hits in each contest, with no player having a multiple hit game. Here is the Saturday game article from the Terre Haute Tribune Star. The Sycamore midweek contest at Indiana was rescheduled due to poor weather. GO SYCAMORES