TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- For the second straight day, Indiana State posted a crooked number in the first inning to put the game away early in a 10-3 Missouri Valley Conference win over the Missouri State baseball team Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute, Ind.

    The Sycamores (29-12, 8-5 MVC) hung a five-spot on the Bears (17-24, 3-8) in the bottom of the first, getting a single and a double from the first two hitters and leading 2-0 when MSU committed two errors on a ground ball off the No. 3 hitter’s bat. Two walks and another single made it 3-0 and loaded the bases, allowing two ground outs to serve as RBIs for the 5-0 lead.

    Missouri State had plenty of chances but was unable to capitalize on 11 Sycamore walks and two hit batters, stranding 15 runners in all and 13 in scoring position. The Bears hit 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position in the game.

    The Sycamores led 8-1 after three innings as MSU’s Brett Marshall hit an RBI ground out in the second before the home team took advantage of a two-out error in the third to finish off a three-run frame. Starter Pat Doyle (4-7) settled in after that, but the damage was done. The senior went six innings and allowed four earned runs.

    Missouri State drew four consecutive walks to open the seventh with Keenen Maddox drawing the fourth to force home Travis McComack. Aaron Conway scored on a wild pitch before ISU’s Scott Harlan struck out the side to strand Bears on second and third.

    Indiana State began the eighth inning with a double sandwiched between two singles for the 10-3 final. MSU left the bases loaded in the ninth.
   
    Curt Courtwright and Tyler Ryun had two hits each for MSU, accounting for four of the team’s five base knocks. Kevin Medrano had the other, a two-out double in the fifth, to push his hitting streak to 23 games, fourth longest in MSU history.

    The series concludes at 12 p.m. Central Sunday.