Indiana State’s Adam Pottinger went 1-for-3 with three runs scored in Indiana State’s 11-8 win over Iowa. (Photo Courtesy of Indiana State Athletics)
The No. 14 program in the nation and 2023 Missouri Valley Conference tournament champions are standing tall.
The Indiana State University Sycamores (45-15) are marching onto their first Super Regional in the history of their program, beating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes (44-16) 11-8 yesterday in the Terre Haute Regional, and will play TCU next week in the Super Regional round.
Indiana State University is looking to reach the NCAA Division I College World Series for the first time since the 1986 NCAA Tournament, when they went to Omaha straight from Regionals before the tournament field was expanded.
Ten different Sycamores were hit by pitches yesterday, which tied an NCAA Division I postseason record for most hit by pitches in the same game.
Indiana State University also improved to 11-0 for the 2023 season in games that Lane Miller has started on the mount. Miller went three innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, no walks, and no strikeouts during yesterday’s win.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Hawkeyes got on the scoreboard first as Raider Tello singled to center field, scoring Michael Seegers.
During the top of the second inning, Seth Gergely tied the game up at one apiece for Indiana State, hitting a sacrifice fly to right field and scoring Keegan Watson came in to score to make it 1-1.
In the top of the third inning, Indiana State broke through, taking a two-run lead when first baseman Miguel Rivera drove a two-run RBI single to center field, with designated hitter Luis Hernandez and Adam Pottinger coming in to score to put the Sycamores up 3-1.
During the bottom of the third inning, Iowa came storming back in the game as Brennen Dorighi smashed a two-run homer to right field, scoring Sam Petersen to tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Sycamores took the lead once again when catcher Grant Magill doubled to left field, scoring Mike Sears.
Hawkeyes starting pitcher Zack Voelker went 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, four earned runs, walking one batter and striking out one.
The see-saw continued in the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Hawkeyes regained the lead once again. Blake Guerin drilled a two-run home run and Sam Hojnar came in to score as Iowa took the lead 5-4.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Sycamores inched closer when Magill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Rivera came in to score to cut the lead to one run at 6-5. The next batter, shortstop Randal Diaz, grounded into a fielder’s choice at third base, and Sears came in to score to tie the game up at 6-6.
During the top of the sixth inning, Indiana State University took the lead for the third time when Sears grounded into a fielder’s choice at shortstop. Hawkeyes second baseman Hojnar misplayed his throw to first base, resulting in Luis Hernandez coming in to score and the Sycamores took a 7-6 lead. A few batters later, Magill drew a bases loaded walk and Pottinger came in to score to extend the lead to two runs at 8-6.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Sycamores’ right fielder Keegan Watson connected on a three-run home run to left field, and Hernandez and Pottinger came in to score to extend the lead to 11-7.
Sycamores relief pitcher Simon Gregerson threw 3.1 innings in relief and retired the side in order during the ninth as Indiana State University clinched their first trip to a Super Regional. Gregerson allowed one hit, one earned run, no walks, and struck out six with 49 pitches.
Sycamore relief pitcher Jacob Pruitt picked up his second win of the year coming out of the bullpen in the fifth inning, throwing one inning and allowing one hit, one earned run, no walks, and striking out two.
Indiana State University closed out the Terre Haute Regional with a perfect 3-0 record.