TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Northern Iowa baseball team is off to its best Missouri Valley Conference start in school history.

Dane Embury blasted a three-run home run and Taylor Sinclair pitched seven innings Sunday afternoon to help the Panthers upend Indiana State, 6-2, and take two of three in the series.

UNI (16-10, 5-1 MVC) is tied with Wichita State, which downed Missouri State 9-5 on Sunday, for first place in the league standings. It was also the Panthers' first series win over the Sycamores since 2002.

With leadoff hitter Deric Manrique out because of a shoulder injury, Embury moved up to the top spot in the order. The senior reached base three times, including a homer to left-center in the second inning that gave UNI a 3-0 cushion.

Four innings later, Embury, a left fielder, helped presevere the lead by throwing out Indiana State's Nick Ciolli at the plate on a single.

The Panthers added three insurance runs in the seventh. Brandon Douglas had a run-scoring single, while a walk and a wild pitch led to the other two runs.

After Indiana State (8-17, 4-15) loaded the bases in the eighth, UNI closer Joe Gonzalez came in and struck out Brian Jett to halt the rally. Gonzalez retired the Sycamores in order in the ninth for his third save.

Freshman Cory Ege was 3-for-3 with two runs scored for UNI, which has won 12 of its last 14.

The Panthers travel to Minnesota for a 3 p.m. tilt Wednesday before heading to Illinois State for a weekend series Friday.

Northern Iowa 030 000 300 - 6 7 1

Indiana State 000 020 000 - 2 8 3

Taylor Sinclair, Zach Zirbel (8), Joe Gonzalez (8) and Eddie Almonte. Micah Spencer, Brian Oliver (8) and Sean Osborne, Bronco Lafrenz (8). WP - Sinclair (3-1). LP - Spencer (2-3). S - Gonzalez (3). HR - Dane Embury (UNI).

MVC standings

Conf. Overall

W L W L

Wichita State 5 1 24 4

Northern Iowa 5 1 16 10

Creighton 6 3 20 8

Missouri State 5 4 18 10

Southern Illinois 3 3 17 11

Bradley 4 5 13 14

Indiana State 4 5 8 17

Illinois State 3 6 13 13

Evansville 1 8 4 24

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

Northern Iowa 6, Indiana State 2

Wichita State 9, Missouri State 5

Illinois State 6, Evansville 2

Bradley 4, Creighton 3, 12 inn.

Southern Ill. 5, Wis.-Milwaukee 4