After dropping its first two games of the season, the Illinois State baseball team fell to Western Kentucky by the score of 10-3. With the loss, the Redbirds fall to 0-3 on the season.
Similar to their first two games, the Redbirds fell behind early to the Hilltoppers. In the bottom of the first inning, the Hilltoppers loaded the bases with no outs. A balk by Neil Johnson (0-1), followed by a two-run single by Western Kentuckys Patrick Ransdell resulted in 3-0 Hilltoppers lead. Later in the inning, Ransdell scored on a wild pitch to put Western Kentucky up by four.
A leadoff double by Mike Saunches sparked a Redbirds comeback in the top of the fourth inning. Later in the inning, a two-run single by Jeremy Accardo pulled the Redbirds within two.
Yet, in the bottom of the fourth, Western Kentucky came right back. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Johnson hit two batters before giving up a three-run homerun to Western Kentuckys Tanner Townsend.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Hilltoppers struck again. An RBI double by pinch-hitter Jeff Pacholke followed by a sacrifice fly by Ryan Arnett put the Hilltoppers ahead 9-2.
The Redbirds scored again in the top of the sixth to pull within six, but in the bottom of the eighth the Hilltoppers added another run to take a 10-3 lead.
Western Kentuckys, Andy Baldwin (1-1), pitched six innings, giving up only five hits and striking out eight Redbird batters.
Pitching well in relief for the Redbirds was senior, Tim Boyer. After giving up a leadoff double to Western Kentuckys David Lower, who advanced to third on a groundout, Boyer retired the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in the Hilltoppers lineup to end the sixth inning.
The Redbirds will return to action on Friday, March 1, at 11 a.m. against Middle Tennessee State in Clarksville, Tennessee.
