The Illinois State baseball team ran into a barrage of hits from Oral Roberts and fell behind early before losing the game, 16-3, in the fourth day of the Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno, Calif. Greg Blaesing and Jeremy Accardo each went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Ryan Cantrell went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Illinois States Neil Johnson walked the first two Golden Eagle batters before Wilton Reynolds sent the ball over the left field wall for a three-run homer. The next batter, David Castillo, hit a home run to left center to make the score, 4-0, in favor of Oral Roberts. With three walks and two homers, Neil Johnson was taken out of the game before the first out of the game was drawn and replaced by Jake Stewart. The Golden Eagles tacked on one more run on a sacrifice fly to left field by Stockton Davis that made the score, 5-0.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first for the Redbirds, Oral Roberts got another big hit from Castillo in the second when he hit a two-out double to left field that scored two. Illinois State was still unable to get the ball out of the infield and ended the inning again with three straight outs.
A solo homer to right-center by Eric Thornton started the third inning and increased the Golden Eagle lead to eight, 8-0.
Greg Blaesing got the first Redbird hit with one out in the bottom of the third with a single to left field. It was followed by a double down the left field line by Chris Shepherd that advanced Blaesing to third. A single by Ryan Cantrell to right field scored Blaesing and Shepherd, while Shepherd was able to advance to second on an error by the right fielder. He was able to reach third on a wild pitch by David Humen and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Kevin ODell, which cut the Golden Eagle lead to five, 8-3.
It is hard for a young team to play when their starting pitcher spots the other team five runs in the first inning, said Illinois State head coach Jeff Stewart. We were able to get a little production from our offense in the third (inning) with three runs but we just couldnt maintain it. Pitching was definitely the difference in this game.
A double by Thornton in the fourth scored two more runs for Oral Roberts and he was able to score on a wild pitch by Stewart to the next batter making the score, 11-3. Three doubles in the fifth scored three runs in the fifth, while a sacrifice fly to right field scored Dennis Bigley after he reached on a triple to right center.
Oral Roberts, 11-7 overall, scored two more runs in the final four innings of the game. The Birds allowed the Golden Eagles at least one run in seven of the games nine innings. Oral Roberts outhit Illinois State, 17-8, in the game.
Illinois State, 1-9 overall, continues tournament action Friday, March 15, however, seedings and times will not be established until all Thursday games have been played.
