Normal, IL –  Jarrod Watkins’ two sacrifice flies drove in the tying and go-ahead runs, Austin Moralis pitched 4 2/3 gritty innings in relief and Chris Ayers blasted a three-run homer as No. 3 seed Indiana State upended No. 1 seed Dallas Baptist 9-5 in the first championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Duffy Bass Field. The second, and deciding, championship game followed later Saturday afternoon.

Watkins’ second sac fly put Indiana State (40-16) ahead 5-4 in the sixth and the Sycamores scored an insurance run right away on Roby Enriquez’s ground out.  But Ayers’ three-run homer in the eighth gave ISU a four-run lead entering the ninth.

Moralis (1-0) came on in relief of ISU starter Zach Frey to start the third inning and gave up a single to Augie Isaacson and a home run to Blayne Jones to put DBU on top 4-2. After a walk to Bryce Ball, who was erased in a subsequent double play, Moralis retired nine straight Patriots before surrendering a solo homer to Andres Sosa with two outs in the seventh to bring DBU within 6-5. 

With a 2-0 count on Augie Isaacson, the next batter, Tyler Grawer replaced Moralis on the mound. Grawer retired Isaacson on a ground out and set down the last seven Patriot hitters to earn his eighth save of the season.

The pressure on Grawer’s ninth inning was eased by Ayers home run, which came after Clay Dungan and Jarrod Watkins walked in the bottom of the eighth. Ayers had just one home run in the regular season, but has hit three in the tournament, including this drive just right of the scoreboard in right field.

Dallas Baptist (41-17) got home runs from Evan Sandman, Bryce Jones and Andres Sosa, but the Patriots pitchers surrendered 10 walks—five of which scored. Cole Reeves (1-1), the third of four DBU pitchers, took the loss.

The Patriots are looking for their fourth Valley baseball tournament title. Indiana State is seeking its seventh tourney championship, but first since 1995.