Means’ Slam Boosts Indiana State over Evansville

NORMAL, Ill. –  Jake Means belted a grand slam homer during a 7-run Indiana State outburst in the third inning as the Sycamores hammered Evansville 7-0 in the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament Wednesday at Duffy Bass Field.

The No. 3 seed Sycamores (37-15) advance to meet No. 2 seed Illinois State at 7 p.m., Thursday.  The No. 4 seed Aces (24-28) play No. 1 seed Dallas Baptist at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Indiana State went down in order in the first two innings, but Max Wright walked, Luke Fegen singled and Clay Dungan was safe on an error to load the bases ahead of Means’ blast, his fifth home run of the season—and second grand slam.

The Sycamores poured it on with a run-scoring single by Roby Enriquez and a two-run double by CJ Huntley to finish the 7-run inning.

Indiana State starter Triston Polley (7-1) held UE to five hits in seven innings—never more than one an inning—and struck out six. Geremy Guerrero finished the game for the Aces, striking out three. 

Adam Lukas (5-6) took the loss for Evansville, allowing six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Michael Parks relieved Lukas in the third and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one Indiana State hit.