Nate Whitney scored Illinois States lone run in the first inning of the game, but SMS took advantage late and defeated the Redbirds 10-1 Thursday in the first game of their four-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Redbird Field.
Illinois State falls to 21-28 overall and 12-16 in the Valley, while SMS improved its overall record to 32-19 with an 18-9 league record. The Bears recorded 10 hits in the game and scored seven of their 10 runs in the final two innings. The Redbirds managed only four hits and never really threatened the SMS lead after the first inning.
Dante Brinkley got SMS its first run of the ballgame with a solo homer to centerfield on the second pitch of the game to put the Bears ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. SMS starter Chad Mulholland (8-2) issued back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first when Jeremy Pickrel brought Whitney home from third on a sac fly to left field to tie the game. Unfortunately for the Birds, Jay Molina lined into a 5-4 double play to end the inning.
After three scoreless innings, the Bears Tony Piazza led off with a base hit and Illinois State starter Todd Stein (3-5) issued a walk to Brinkley to put runners at first and second with one out. An RBI double to right field by Brooks Colvin plated Piazza and Greg Mathis grounded out to short for an RBI that scored Brinkley from third to put SMS up 3-1 after five innings of play.
The Redbirds had a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth with runners at first and second with one out, but Jon Peacock flew out to centerfield and Lance McMillan struck out swinging to retire the side. Three walks and a base hit by Mathis to open the eighth inning helped SMS extend their lead to 6-1 with the three runs eventually scored in the inning.
Brinkley homered for the second time on the night sending a shot over the right field wall in the top of the ninth to put the Bears ahead 7-1 and then a one-out, two-RBI single by Tim Rafferty gave SMS the 9-1 advantage. The Bears got one more run in the inning to go ahead 10-1.
Illinois State continues its series with the Bears Friday with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. The first game will be seven innings, while the nightcap will be a nine-inning affair. Both games will be available to fans via WJBCs webcast.
