The Redbirds chances of a four-game sweep of Northern Iowa were slim after 18 hits eventually led the Panthers to a 15-4 victory of Illinois State in baseball action at Redbird Field Sunday.
Winners of 10 of their last 11, the Birds six-game win streak was halted after four errors and seven scoreless innings boosted Northern Iowas momentum for a win in the series finale. With the loss, Illinois State is now 17-19 on the season, 7-8 in the Valley while Northern Iowas record stands at 18-17, 6-14.
I thought we had some momentum early in the ball game, head coach Jeff Stewart said. We were in a good place until that two-out double past Jake in left field led them to run after run after run.
Our heads just were not here, Stewart continued. They got things going early and it just continued from there.
A double followed by a single in the top of the first put the Panthers on the board, leading 3-0 after one. Three more runs in the second gave Northern Iowa a six-run cushion early.
The Redbirds broke out in the bottom of the third inning, with two runs after doubles by Jon Peacock and Jake Perganson. Still trailing by four, a hit by Greg Blaesing followed by a double by Jeremy Accardo and a walk by Ryan Cantrell resulted in bases loaded for Brad Bouris, who hit a line-drive to right field to score two Bird runs.
Down 6-4 after two scoreless innings, Northern Iowa jumped back to a four-run lead after two runs scored in the seventh. Three consecutive hits, including a stand-up double that sailed over Jake Pergansons head in left field by Gary Lane, plated two Panthers as their lead increased, 8-4.
Northern Iowa led 11-4 until four more runs were scored in the top of the ninth. A three-run home run by Adam Boeve followed by a Redbird error was all UNI needed to take one in the four-game series, eventually winning 15-4.
Kyle Zaleski (3-2), who got the loss, went 5.2 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs and striking out two before Steve Reyes entered the game, throwing 1.1 innings and giving up two runs. Kevin Ewen took the mound in the eighth inning allowing two more Panther runs before Tim Boyer replaced him to finish the game.
Illinois State returns to action on Wednesday with a non-conference game against Illinois at Redbird Field. Start time is 6:30 p.m.
