Indiana State 6, at Bradley 2

PEORIA, IL - Indiana State second baseman drove in a run and scored twice, including the go-ahead tally in the sixth inning, leading the Sycamores (32-19, 11-7 MVC) to a 6-2 win Sunday at Bradley (24-19, 8-9 MVC) in the deciding game of their weekend Missouri Valley Conference series at Dozer Park.

Sycamores side-arming RHP Damon Olds came out of the bullpen to shut down Bradley's offense, finishing with seven strikeouts in 4.0 innings of scoreless and hitless relief to earn his second save. Starter Weston Rivers (W 2-0) allowed two runs on five hits in 5.0 innings and earned the victory when DeJesus put the Sycamores in front, 3-2, in the top of the sixth.

The go-ahead rally started in a bit of a fluke fashion, when Bradley shortstop Tyler Leffler tripped on the edge of the grass while moving in to position to field a routine ground ball from DeJesus. Andy Young followed with a bunt in front of home plate that went for a base hit, despite Bradley's argument that the Young touched the ball on his way out of the batter's box.

The plays proved costly. After Hunter Owen flew out, DeJesus hustled into third base on a wild pitch, then scored when Sycamores catcher Kaden Moore beat out a potential inning-ending double play on a slow roller to short.

Leffler led off the bottom of the sixth with a double into the left field corner to end Rivers' day. Olds came on to strike out Paul Solka, Evan Gruener and Ian Kristan to keep the Sycamores in front. After allowing a 2-out walk to Andy Shadid in the sixth, Olds retired Bradley's final 10 batters in order.

Senior LHP Brent Stong (L 1-1) suffered the tough-luck loss in his final game at Dozer Park, despite allowing only one earned run in his 6.0 innings. Stong scattered four hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out four.

DeJesus opened the game with a leadoff double and eventually scored on a passed ball. After Dane Tofteland led off the third with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball, he scored on a DeJesus sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

The Braves pulled even in the fourth, which started with a Luke Mangieri triple. Leffler drove home Bradley's first run with a 1-out single and he scored on Evan Gruener's 2-out double to forge a 2-2 tie.

Bradley, which leads The Valley with 58 wins away from home the last three years, will play at least six more games away from home this season, beginning with its non-conference finale Tuesday (6 p.m.) at SIU Edwardsville. Currently fourth in the MVC standings, Bradley will visit Southern Illinois for the final three games of the regular season Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Braves trail SIU and Indiana State (hosts Evansville) by 2.5 games for second place in the league standings.