NORMAL, Ill. – Fifth-year junior Jared Hart and fifth-year senior Colin Wyman combined for a three-hit shutout of Valparaiso as Illinois State won, 7-0, on Friday in the series opener at Duffy Bass Field.
Hart went 5.1 innings before allowing a hit, recording five strikeouts in six scoreless innings. Wyman earned his first career save after throwing three scoreless innings and allowing two hits.
Third-year sophomore Greg Nichols and fifth-year junior Jake McCaw each homered for the Redbirds (13-15 overall, 2-2 Missouri Valley Conference).
Valparaiso (11-18 overall, 0-4 MVC) dropped its seventh-straight game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 1st inning, Nichols homered just over the right field wall to get the scoring going before fourth-year junior Connor Olson doubled to plate another run as part of a three-hit performance.
McCaw recorded a 2nd-inning RBI before Olson recorded an RBI single to put ISU up, 5-0, after two innings.
McCaw smacked a 432-foot home run to center field in the 5th inning prior to second-year freshman Tyler Woltman recording a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-0.
Wyman allowed a pair of hits over three innings, but the Beacons never had more than one runner on-base in any inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- ISU struck out just twice in five innings against Colin Fields, the MVC's leader in strikeouts.
- The 'Birds recorded their first shutout since 4/27/21 vs SIUE. ISU has yet to be shutout in 2022.
- Illinois State did not walk a batter for the first time since 5/9/21 at Dallas Baptist.
- Nichols was the designated hitter for the first time this season.
- McCaw extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
- Hitters 2-6 in the ISU lineup were 12-18 (.667).
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to host Valparaiso on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT
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