Four errors hurt the Illinois State baseball team late in Thursdays 7-4 loss to Gonzaga in day four of Fresno States Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno, Calif. A three-run homer by Jay Molina was the highlight of the day in a contest, which saw the Redbirds score all their runs in the second inning.
Illinois State falls to 4-5 overall dropping its last four games. Todd Stein (1-1), who came in to relieve ISU starter Kyle Zaleski to start the seventh inning, took the loss for the Redbirds. Molina finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs, while Chris Shepherd went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jeremy Pickrel also had a nice outing with a 2-for-5, one run, one RBI performance.
Gonzaga got on the scoreboard early with a 1-0 lead when Eric Rodland led off the game with a stand-up double down the right field line and later scored on an RBI single to center by Jeff Culpepper. Illinois State responded in the bottom of the second going through the entire lineup en route to four runs and led by a two-out, three-run homer to left field by Jay Molina, his first of the season.
Zaleski pitched well over the next three innings to keep the 4-1 lead secure heading into the fifth inning, however, back-to-back singles followed by an unsuccessful fielders choice attempt at third base loaded the bases for the Bulldogs with no outs. Chris Shepherd was able to convert a double play which score one, but not before Zaleski also walked in a run to make the score 4-3. Another Bulldog base hit scored the final run of the inning for Gonzaga to tie the game, 4-4.
A base hit and walk to lead off the seventh inning proved costly for the Redbirds as Gonzaga used sac bunts and fly balls to tack on two more runs and take their first lead of the ballgame, 6-4. A costly error by Jeremy Pickrel in center field gave Gonzaga another run in the eighth inning to extend the lead to three, 7-4.
Consecutive strikeouts by Molina and Peacock in the bottom of the ninth and another K by Nate Whitney sealed the Redbirds fate.
The Redbirds continue the tournament Friday with a match-up against the Blue Divisions No. 3 team UNC-Asheville. The game time for Illinois State will be determined following Thursdays games.
