The Illinois State baseball team got a strong pitching performance by Steve Hecker in a 3-1 victory over Saint Xavier, however, the second game of Saturdays doubleheader was suspended with the Redbirds leading 5-3 due to poor weather conditions.
Following ace Neal Cotts in the Redbirds pitching rotation is no easy task, however, Steve Hecker rose to the challenge with his second-straight complete game to push the Redbirds (18-17) over .500 for the first time since March 2.
Hecker (6-3) started slowly, but built confidence and command of his pitches as the game progressed. The right-handed senior scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out three while walking only one batter.
Trailing 1-0 after the Cougars (19-20) scratched the scoring column with consecutive doubles by Ray Schmeski and Tom Syska in the second inning, the Redbirds went to work at the plate.
Senior first baseman Ed Tolzien was plunked by Cougar starter Tom McLaughlin to start the Redbird second inning. Tolzien got the Birds in business when he advanced from first to third on a wild pitch, he scored two batters later on a single up the middle by catcher Steve Reyes.
The Birds struck again in the third when second baseman Jim Chiappetta launched his second homer in as many days down the left field line to leadoff the inning. Jared Dufault, the Missouri Valley Conferences leading hitter, kept the inning alive with a two-out single to center. The combination of Dufault and Mike Saunches, the leading run producer in the MVC, provided dividends once again when Saunches riffled a single to right field, plating Dufault.
Saint Xavier tallied two runs off of ISU starter Neil Johnson in the opening-frame of game two and added another run in the fifth inning before play was suspended.
ISU was led in game two by the duo of catcher Greg Blaesing and third baseman Jon Peacock which combined to go 5-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored.
Before play was suspended, Dufault extended his hitting-streak to 20 games, while Saunches extended his to 18.
Play will resume with the completion of the suspended game at noon on Sunday, followed by the regularly scheduled series finale.
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