Auburn tops Indiana State Baseball

AUBURN, Ala. (WTHI) - The tournament-host Auburn Tigers held the Indiana State baseball team without a hit over the final seven innings of their matchup Sunday, picking a 6-5 victory over the Sycamores in the final game of the tournament at Plainsman Park and Hitchcock Field.

Indiana State (3-4) made three errors in the first inning on Sunday, allowing three unearned runs to cross the plate. The Sycamores responded with five runs in the top of the second inning to take a 5-3 lead, totaling five hits in the frame. Junior Tyler Wampler (hit by pitch), sophomore Landon Curry (groundout), redshirt sophomore Jacob Hayes (single), senior Robby Ort (fielder’s choice) and junior Mike Fitzgerald (single) tallied five consecutive RBIs for Indiana State in the inning.

Auburn (6-1) came back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning on the strength of a two-run double by Ryan Tella. The Tigers took the lead for good in the fourth inning, as Tella brought home Dan Glevenyak with a single to center.

Indiana State touched up AU starter Rocky McCord for five runs and five hits in 1.2 innings of work, but the bullpen combination of Justin Camp and Conner Kendrick combined to allow just one hit in 7.1 shutout innings of work with six strikeouts. Camp (2-0) earned the victory on the mound, Kendrick picking up the save in relief.

Junior Jeff Degano (0-1) took the loss for Indiana State, allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits in 3.1 innings on the mound. Senior Devin Moore closed out the game, tossing 4.2 innings of shutout baseball with a pair of strikeouts.

The Sycamores remain on the road next week, playing their first midweek game of the season with a matchup against Austin Peay on Wednesday, Feb. 27. ISU and APSU met last season in the Eugene Regional of the NCAA Tournament, the Governors earning a 1-0 win.