BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — The Indiana State Sycamores capitalized on a critical Indiana error to plate two unearned runs in the fifth inning and then weathered a late rally to edge the Indiana Hoosiers 5-4 in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday night at Bart Kaufman Field.

The victory improved Indiana State to 11-13 on the season, while Indiana fell to 10-14.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the top of the fifth inning with the Sycamores holding a 5-2 lead. With one out and a runner on second, Indiana State’s Garcia N. reached on a throwing error by the Hoosiers’ third baseman, allowing the runner to advance to third. Ortiz A. followed with an RBI single to center field, scoring Roell M. with the unearned run. After a pitching change, Beck C. delivered another run-scoring single to right, bringing home Garcia N. with what proved to be the winning margin.

Those runs were crucial as Indiana mounted a comeback attempt. The Hoosiers chipped away in the bottom of the seventh when Jake Hanley doubled to left-center off reliever Sparks J., scoring pinch-runner Noto to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Indiana State added two insurance runs in the eighth, keyed by a Cartagena RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Sander C., pushing the lead to 7-3.

The Hoosiers refused to go quietly in the ninth. Pinch-hitter ten Oever singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Hanley, his second RBI of the game, to make it 7-4. With a runner on, Indiana State turned to reliever Jack Armstrong, who induced a game-ending fielder’s choice to secure the victory.

The Sycamores’ bullpen was instrumental in preserving the lead. After starter Johnsen S. lasted just one inning, a parade of six relievers combined to hold Indiana to three runs over the final eight frames. Key among them was Hunter Small, who entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh and struck out Malamazian to end the threat. Colby Morse, Owen Roberts, Brady Banker and Armstrong each contributed scoreless outings.

For Indiana, starter Conner Linn provided stability with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Reagan Rivera and Jacob Vogel also posted scoreless frames late. The Hoosiers outhit the Sycamores 9-7 but stranded multiple runners, including the potential tying run in the ninth.

The game’s outcome ran counter to pregame projections. While Interstat’s ELO system gave Indiana a 56% probability to win, the organization’s game simulator had accurately predicted the final score.

Indiana State now looks ahead to a three-game series at Valparaiso starting Friday. Indiana will travel to Nebraska to open a Big Ten Conference series, also on Friday.