SEATTLE, Wash. – The opening game of the four-game series between Illinois State and Pac-12 foe Washington was tight throughout, but a late run for the Redbirds (6-4) gave them a 3-2 victory over the host Huskies (6-6) Friday night at Husky Ballpark.
ISU starter Brady Huffman was solid once again, allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out six in 5.1 innings of work. Michael Sebby, Trevor Cross, and Kyle Pauly combined to hold the Huskies scoreless over the final 3.2 innings to secure the victory. Cross (1-1) picked up his first win of the season and Pauly picked up the first save of the season for the Redbirds in a spotless final 1.1 innings of work.
It was a pitcher's duel early, as the two squads combined for just two hits through the first three innings. Illinois State finally broke the stalemate in the top of the fourth, when Noah Sadler launched his fourth home run of the season over the right field wall to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead over the Huskies. The Redbirds would tack on another run in the top of the sixth, after Collin Braithwaite led off the inning with a double and later scored on a Joe Aeilts one-out double to right field to make it 2-0 in favor of ISU.
The Huskies then tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run home run off the bat of Joe Wainhouse. Neither team was able to plate a run in the seventh inning, however the Redbirds took back the lead in the top half of the eighth inning. Sadler drew the one-out walk and advanced to third base on a pair of wild pitches. Following a walk by Aeilts, John Rave drove in Sadler from third to give ISU a 3-2 lead. That would be all the 'Birds would need, as they took game one of the series against the Huskies.
Game two of the four-game set begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will be broadcast via leanStream on GoHuskies.com. Game updates will be tweeted @RedbirdBaseball and fans can find all game links at GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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