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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State's Clay Dungan brought home the game-winning run on an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth as the Sycamores earned a 2-1 walk-off victory over Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.
Following the loss, Eastern Illinois dropped to 2-17 on the season. Indiana State improved to 11-9 on the year.
Indiana State took the lead over the Panthers right away to start the bottom half of the first inning as Kyle Moore hit a lead-off solo home run over the wall in right and put the Sycamores up 1-0. Indiana State threated again in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but
Brendon Allen got the Panthers out of the jam with an inning-ending double play and kept the Sycamores from adding to their lead.
After the first inning, the game had the feel of a pitcher's duel between Allen and the Indiana State pitching staff as both offenses were held scoreless through the next seven frames.
Joseph Duncan singled through the left side with one out in the top of the ninth inning and stole second to put a runner in scoring position for
Matt Albert. Albert lined a ball into left field that dropped in for a double and plated Duncan to tie the score at 1-1.
Indiana State started the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on against the EIU bullpen. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up to second and third with one out. Clay Dungan flew out to deep right and brought home the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly as the Sycamores earned a 2-1 victory.
Allen went seven innings strong on the mound for the Panthers, allowing just the one run on five hits and eight strikeouts.
Alex Stevenson shut down the Sycamores in order in the eighth.
Michael Starcevich took the loss on the bump for the Panthers.
Duncan finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate to lead EIU.
The Panthers will return home for the first time in the 2017 season after opening up the year with 19 straight road games. Eastern Illinois will welcome Murray State to Coaches Stadium in a three-game OVC series this weekend.
