Untimely errors and walks hurt the Illinois State baseball team as it dropped both games of a doubleheader against Western Kentucky. The Redbirds fell 5-4 and 11-0 to the Hilltoppers.
With the losses, the Redbirds fall to 0-2 on the season while Western Kentucky improves to 6-3.
In the first game, scheduled for seven innings, Ryan Cantrell hit an RBI single to give the Redbirds a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. However, an untimely error with two men on allowed the Hilltoppers to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. In extra innings, Western Kentucky added another run to secure the 5-4 victory.
In the second game, scheduled for nine innings, the Redbirds fell behind from the start. In the bottom of the first, Kyle Bloom retired the first two batters before giving up a two-out walk to Western Kentuckys Nick Turner. Turners walk was followed by a two-run homerun by Ryan Cattell. A two-run lead was all the Hilltoppers would need as J.C. Faircloth and Grady Hinchman combined to pitch a six-hit shutout.
Coach Jeff Stewart was optimistic about his teams performance in the first game.
We did some really good things in the first game, said Stewart. Unfortunately, we made our only error of the game when we could least afford it.
However, Stewart was less than thrilled about his teams performance in the second game.
We just really didnt do anything at all, said Stewart. Ending the first game like we did didnt help us either.
The Redbirds will face Western Kentucky once more on Sunday, February 24, in Bowling Green.
