Kyle Zaleski (3-1) got the win on the mound and Jake Perganson was 4-for-9 on the day, with three runs and a homer to lead the Illinois State baseball team to a split with Northern Illinois today at McKinzie Field in DeKalb, Ill. NIU took game one 6-5 while the Redbirds stormed back in game two, 9-4.
We played pretty good baseball today, head coach Jeff Stewart said. There was one inning in that first game that decided the outcome. But fortunately we springed back from the loss and got the last game.
Illinois State improves to 12-18 overall after taking three of four from Northern Illinois this weekend. The Huskies are 12-19.
In game two, with the Birds leading 2-0, Greg Blaesing went deep for a three-run homer, his second of the year, improving ISUs lead to 5-0.
To end the fifth inning with two outs, a double by John Brock of NIU followed by two Huskie singles scored two runs. Up 5-2, Perganson hit his third home run of the year in the seventh.
Northern Illinois made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh when Pat Kerrigan hit a two-run home run over the right field fence, closing the Redbird lead to 6-4. Ryan Cantrell hit Illinois States third homer of the day, in the top of the ninth to secure the Redbird win. It was Cantrells fourth homer of the year.
An error on the second baseman from Northern Illinois led to the last run of the game as ISU went on to take game two, 8-4.
In game one, Illinois State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Saunches scored on an error by the pitcher.
Still up by one, Cantrell hit a bases-loaded, RBI single up the middle to give the Birds a two-run cushion before Scott Bialobreski stepped to the plate and did the same.
Leading 3-0, the Huskies came back in the fifth inning, tying the game. With bases loaded after a walk and two consecutive Redbird errors, Brock and Greg Larsen hit back-to-back singles to drive home three.
Northern Illinois took the lead one batter later, when Rob Marconi ripped a double to the right center wall, plating two Huskies before the inning ended with NIU up 6-3.
Brad Bouris got the Birds back on track in the sixth, hitting his eighth double of the year after Perganson hit a single to left field. With runners on second and third, Jon Peacock connected for a hit down the left field line, scoring two runs and pulling the Birds to within one, 6-5, but it ended with that score.
The Redbirds return to action with two non-conference games slated for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. St. Xavier comes to town on Tuesday for a 3:30 pm start time while Iowa is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both games are to be played at Redbird Field.
