Jon Peacock went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Jake Blair hit his second home run in as many days, but it wasnt enough as Fresno State used three, big innings of scoring to defeat the Illinois State baseball team 15-6 on the second day of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno, Calif.
The Redbirds fall to 4-3 on the season, while Fresno State improves to 8-12. Illinois had 10 hits in the game compared to 15 Bulldog hits.
Illinois State went up 3-0 in the top of the first inning when Blair crushed a two-out, three-run shot over the left field wall that scored Jon Peacock and Jay Molina from second and first respectively. Fresno State answered in the bottom of the inning, however, when Redbird starter Mike Quinlan (0-2) gave up four Bulldog hits and two walks en route to four runs to give Fresno State a 4-3 advantage after an inning.
Quinlan was able to get out of a jam in the second inning with runners at second and third and only one out when he got consecutive Bulldog batters to pop out to first base and short respectively. Peacock was able to steal home on a two-out, 2-6-3-4 pick-off when Blair used himself as a decoy in an attempt to steal second.
Illinois State displayed its infield defense in the bottom of the fourth closing out the frame with a ground-out, 5-4-3 double play to keep the game knotted at 4-4. Quinlan put two Bulldogs on base in the bottom of the fifth with one out recorded before being relieved by Dave Macdonald, who gave up a two-RBI triple to Tory Davis as the Bulldogs went through their entire order for the second time in the game scoring seven runs in the inning and taking an 11-4 lead.
The Redbirds were able to get two back in the top of the sixth when Peacock led off with a single to right field and then advanced to second on his third stolen base of the game. A two-out double by Scott Bialobreski down the left field line brought Peacock across home plate, while Bialobreski was able to score on a single up the middle by Lance McMillan closing the Bulldogs lead to five, 11-6.
Fresno State threw a barrage of pitchers at the Redbirds the rest of the way and ISU was unable to string anything together. The Bulldogs tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning led by a three-RBI triple by Cody Smith to center field to go up 15-6.
The Redbirds continue the tournament Wednesday with a rematch against Pennsylvania slated for a 3 p.m. start central time. Illinois State defeated Penn 8-4 Sunday at Bullard High School in Fresno. The first meeting was not part of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic.
