Two base hits in the bottom of the 13th inning for Evansville put runners on first and second for Anthony Albano, who ripped a single to right field to drive home the game-winning run as the Redbirds dropped two to Evansville, 4-2 and 3-2 Saturday, diminishing Illinois States chance of securing the sixth seed in the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Obviously this was a very disappointing day, head coach Jeff Stewart said. It really wasnt a letdown for them (Evansville) because they had nothing to lose but we had something on the line. They just got the timely hits and we couldnt get any hits.
We had plenty of chances, Stewart continued. We hung in there through the whole day, hanging right with them. But we couldnt get the two-out hit and in the end, they got the hit to win it.
The two losses for the Redbirds (23-29, 11-17) guarantee the sixth-seed to Northern Iowa. Illinois State left 22 runners on base between the two games and had to win three of the four games this weekend to get to the tournament. Evansville, who was out of the running going into the weekend, improves to 21-32, 11-19 with both teams wrapping up its regular season with two games tomorrow beginning at noon.
With the Birds up by one in the bottom of the ninth, a wild pitch by closer Jeremy Accardo tied the score of the night cap. With a runner on third and two outs, Mike Serafini was intentionally walked to bring up Dan Robinson who grounded out to the shortstop as the game went into extra frames before Albano drove home the run in the 13th.
Starter Steve Reyes held UE until the fourth inning when Andy Rohleder ripped a single up the middle to start the inning. The Aces scored in the same frame after Luke Miller doubled to drive home Rohleder as Evansville took a one-run lead.
Lance McMillan entered the game at second base in the bottom of the fifth and a half inning later, led off the Birds with a single in his first at bat. A sac bunt by Jon Peacock and a ground out by Ryan Cantrell pushed McMillan to third and he scored on a wild pitch by Luis De Aza, the Aces starter.
Tied at one apiece, Kevin ODell drove home the go ahead run in the seventh, a single to left center that plated Chris Shepherd as the Redbirds took a 2-1 lead. After ISU got the one-run advantage, Jim Maloney replaced De Aza on the mound and threw a wild pitch his first throw as ODell advanced to third. Two walks later loaded the bases for Peacock, who grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
In game one, Joey Vandever hit a two-run home run over the right-center fence in the bottom of the eighth to give the Aces the 4-2 win in a game that remained equal through seven innings.
After an error on the Aces third baseman in the second, which should have been the third out of the inning, Accardo ripped an RBI single to right field to put ISU up 1-0, plating Peacock who singled to start the inning.
Evansville scored a single run in the third inning. Three singles, including an RBI bouncer past Jake Perganson at first, tied the score going into the fourth while both teams were held hitless for two innings.
Peacock singled to right field to leadoff the seventh before Perganson flied out to center. Next batter, Shepherd, reached on a fielders choice and while the Aces pitcher tried to throw out Peacock at second, he overthrew the ball and Peacock advanced to third.
With runners on the corners, Greg Blaesing singled to the third baseman to score Peacock as the Birds went up 2-1. Runners still on second and third with one out, Accardo struck out swinging and Scott Legan flew out to centerfield to end the inning.
Dan Robinson tied the game again in the bottom of the seventh. With Whealy, who singled, on second after advancing on a groundout, Robinson sneaked one up the middle on Evansvilles seventh hit of the game.
Illinois State loaded the bases in the eighth after a Brad Bouris double, hit by pitch on Peacock and error on the UE third baseman. With runners in scoring position, Shepherd hit a high-fly ball to right field as Andy Rohleder caught it en route to the ISU loss.
We have got to be a better offensive team, Stewart said. Especially with something on the line like today. I didnt think Evansville hit much better but we couldnt get anything out of our guys. If you cant hit in a game it is hard to win them.
ISU closes its season tomorrow with the noon doubleheader. Game one will be a seven-inning game with the series finale nine innings.
