For a Redbird who has seen action in just 17 games this season, junior Kevin ODell proved he was a valuable part of the team when he ripped a game-winning, RBI single to right center field in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs to lift the Redbirds past St. Xavier, 9-8, Tuesday night at Redbird Field.
I really dont get too many opportunities like this, ODell said. We have been doing good lately though as a team and Im just glad I was able to step up and help out my team to win the ballgame.
Jon (Peacock) really set up the stage for me, ODell continued. Him hitting that home run just boosted my confidence as well as the teams confidence. I knew when I stepped to the plate I had to pull through.
With the Redbirds down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth, Jon Peacock smacked his team-leading seventh homer of the year to pull ISU to within one. With no outs, Mike Saunches lined a single to right field before Chris Shepherd pinch hit for Lance McMillan and reached on an error by the St. Xavier third baseman.
Runners on first and second, Ryan Cantrell reached on a second, consecutive error on St. Xavier which scored a run. Still down by one, Jeremy Accardo flied out to right field the next at bat, which totaled two outs before ODell stepped up and rocked his eighth hit of the year to the right center wall on a 1-2 count to give ISU the win.
With a three-run lead after two innings, Illinois States mistakes early in the game cost them the lead. Three Redbird errors, all committed in the third inning, allowed five runs for St. Xavier as the Birds lost their lead and trailed 5-3.
In the bottom of the third, ISU closed the gap to one when Accardo scored on a Greg Blaesing single to right field. But the Cougars jumped on top again in the fifth, with two runs scored.
With a 7-4 lead by St. Xavier in the sixth, Peacock hit his third single of the day to drive home ODell who walked to start the inning. Another run by Illinois State in the seventh made the score 7-6 but the Cougars looked like they had the game after they scored a single run in the top of the eighth. But timely hitting by unlikely players proved most valuable in the bottom of the ninth as Illinois State improves to 13-18 while St. Xavier falls to 23-18.
Peacock was 3-for-5 on the day with three RBI while ODell was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Steve Reyes, who made a pitching debut in the eighth inning, got the win for ISU.
We played catch-up all game, head coach Jeff Stewart said. We had to continue to hit to get into the game and it didnt look like we would with us mishandling some bunts. But, we didnt deserve to get out of that third inning and St. Xavier came to compete. Thankfully we came out on top but it was shaky until the end.
We always have nine guys in our batting order, Stewart continued. Who would have though ODell would be the one to get the game-winning hit? But that is why he works hard every day for the chance to get to do that and pull through for this team.
Illinois State, which has won six of its last seven, will host Iowa tomorrow night at Redbird Field. Game time is 7 p.m.
We better come more prepared to play tomorrow, Stewart said. Iowa is an improving ball club and it will be a tough game.
