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Butler Defeats Indiana State, 9-8, In Re-Located Game
May 9, 2002 Sophomore Ryan Nance had two hits and drove in two runs, including the eventual game-winner, to help Butler slip past Indiana State, 9-8, in a weather-shortened game played at Sycamore Field in Terre Haute on Wednesday, May 8. The non-conference win boosted the Bulldogs to 26-17 on the season, while Indiana State fell to 24-19. The game between the two central Indiana squads was originally scheduled to be played at Victory Field in Indianapolis, but several days of rain forced a re-location of the contest to Indiana State's home field. Despite less than ideal conditions in Terre Haute, the two Indiana foes managed to complete eight and a half innings before the game was called in the bottom of the ninth inning because of lightning. Indiana State held a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning, but the Bulldogs took command with a five-run rally. Head coach Steve Farley's squad sent 10 players to the plate in the inning, and five different players drove in runs. Nance singled up the middle to drive in sophomore Matt Crews with the final run of the inning and what proved to be the eventual game-deciding tally. Crews, Nance and juniors Jeff Albert and Jared Lowe each had hits in the inning, while senior Jeff Steele, junior Rex Eaton, freshman Jonathan Day, Nance and Crews each drove in a run. The Sycamores clawed back with a run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth frame before the game was called. Indiana State had a runner on first base and one out in the final inning when the game was stopped for 51 minutes because of lightning and then eventually called. Butler unloaded a 13-hit attack on four different Indiana State pitchers. Nance, Steele, Lowe, Crews and freshman Dale Mueller each had a pair of hits. Steele had two doubles, while Lowe notched his fourth triple of the season. Farley used eight different pitchers in the contest, with junior Troy Parton earning the victory. Parton, who blanked the Sycamores in his one inning of work, improved to 2-1 on the season. Starter Matt Zaleski took the loss for Indiana State and dropped to 3-4 on the year. The Bulldogs will begin a four-game Horizon League series against Cleveland State at Bulldog Park on Friday, May 10, at 3 p.m. |
