Ryan Cantrell hit two, three-run home runs and was 3-for-5 with six RBI against Western Illinois today as the Illinois State baseball team, which hit a season-high five homers, worked its way past the Leathernecks, 13-8, in non-conference baseball action in Macomb, Ill.
I have been coming in for extra practice after the last few games, trying to get back to where I was last year, Cantrell said. I watched some film yesterday and worked out some fundamentals. I dont feel like I have been as consistent this year and I am just trying to work harder on that.
Mike Saunches (4-for-6 with four RBI) smacked his sixth bomb of the year while Brad Bouris reached base each at bat, going 3-for-3 with five runs and two walks. Jeremy Accardo hit his first home run of the season and career and Jake Perganson hit his second of the year. Illinois State had 17 hits and two errors, improving its record to 9-17 while Western Illinois falls to 3-24.
Illinois State took a 1-0 lead after Bouris scored on a Jon Peacock double down the right field line in the first inning.
Western Illinois took a one-run lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the second after Pete Tronick jacked his third home run of the year over the left field fence. Back to back doubles pushed Western up 3-1 before Saunches ripped his second double of the game over the centerfielder.
Lewis, the Leathernecks starting pitcher, was replaced by Shay Butler in the third inning and did not allow a hit until Jake Perganson homered over the left field fence, his second of the year, to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. Butler got the loss for WIU.
Cantrell broke the tie in the same inning when he smacked a two-out, three-run home run across the center field fence. In the bottom of the inning and the Birds up 6-3, Western Illinois scored a run after a error on the Redbird third baseman and back to back doubles by Pete Tronick and Jim Rooney.
Saunches hit the third Redbird homer of the day in the sixth inning, a two-run bomb that increased ISUs lead to four, 8-4, but another homer by Jeff Wellwood in the next inning for the Leathernecks scored three runs and pulled WIU to within one run, 8-7.
Cantrell hit his second bomb in the eighth inning, however, and ISU added another run due to Accardos homer in the ninth to end the game.
This game was about what I expected, Head coach Jeff Stewart said. We planned on using a bunch of different young guys on the mound and they competed pretty well.
It was a great hitting day, Stewart continued. Ryan is really swinging well as was the team today. The wind was blowing out and overall we had a consistent approach at the plate.
ISU returns to action on Saturday, April 13 in a non-conference doubleheader against Northern Illinois beginning at 1 p.m.
