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March 28, 2007 EASTERN ILLINOIS RALLIES LATE, THEN STYMIES SYCAMORES IN NINTH TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State nearly rallied from a late inning deficit after having allowed Eastern Illinois to come from behind earlier in the game in falling 5-4 to the visiting Panthers at Sycamore Field. ISU falls to 10-11 on the season while EIU improved to 9-11. ISU led 2-0 heading into the sixth inning, when the Panthers scored a pair to knot the score at two. The Sycamores took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Strausborger belted an RBI single down the left field line to score Josh Abercrombie. EIU scored a pair in the top of the eighth inning to regain the advantage, 4-3, on a two RBI single by Richie Derbak. The Panthers posted an insurance run in the top of the ninth before the Sycamores began a valiant rally down 5-3. In the bottom of the ninth, Abercrombie was hit by a pitch and then scored on a triple by freshman Nick Ciolli to trim the Panther lead down to 5-4. After Chris Schmidt walked to put runners at the corners with an out, the Panthers made the play of the game to seal victory. Derbak, who moved from second to the mound in the middle of the ninth, forced Marcus Artner to hit a come-backer which Derbak started the wheels turning on a double play and ended the rally just short. Derback earned his fourth save of the season, while Tyler Brandon improved to 1-1 with the victory. For ISU, Adam Lindsay (0-3) took the loss, going three and two thirds innings, allowing five hits and three runs. He walked four Panthers. Matt Shelton earned the start and went five and a third, giving up just two hits and a pair of runs with three strikeouts. ISU scored on an RBI single by Paul Strack in the bottom of the second which scored Dave Brumagin for the early 1-0 lead. They added to the advantage in the bottom of the fourth when Strack singled to right field, and EIU’s Casey Spears bobbled the ball, allowing Brumagin to give ISU a 2-0 lead on the unearned run. Offensively, Schmidt’s season-best 15-game hitting streak ended with his 0-for-4 evening. Schmidt did draw a walk in his final at-bat, which put the would be go-ahead run on the base with the game on the line. Strack went 2-for-2 in the game with an RBI, while Strausborger posted a 2-for-4 day as well as an RBI. Ciolli drove in a run with his RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth, which drew the Sycamores within a run. Non-conference play continues for the Sycamores on Friday evening with the first of a four-game series against Valparaiso. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. (ET) at Sycamore Field. There will be a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m., while the finale begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.
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