Much like Saturdays doubleheader, Illinois State was outstanding in game one of their doubleheader Sunday at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana. Unfortunately for the Redbirds, the back end of the double-dip turned out much like Saturdays, as they split with Evansville Sunday winning game one and dropping game two.
Illinois State (7-10, 2-2) won game one 10-6 and dropped game two 13-3, both in seven innings.
After Friday nights game was rained out and the two teams split on Saturday, Sunday would also be a doubleheader. This weekend also marked the return of Illinois State head coach Jim Brownlee to Evansville. Brownlee coached at UE for 23 years before taking over the Redbird program prior to last season.
Because of the rain on Friday, both games Saturday were nine innings, with the seven inning game played in game one on Sunday.
In game one, Illinois State starter Ned Schauff picked up the win for Illinois State, his first as a Redbird. Schauff (1-2) went four innings, allowing six hits, six runs and recorded three strikeouts. Only three of Schauffs runs were earned. Kyle Zaleski (2) picked up the save for ISU.
Evansville (14-8, 2-2) starter Adam Rogers took his first loss in over a year. Rogers (2-1) went 4.2 innings and allowed eight hits and seven runs with three strikeouts.
Illinois State would score in the top of the first, as Nate Whitney led off the game with a double. Two batters later, Jay Molina would single in Whitney giving the Birds a 1-0 lead.
ISU would get four more in the top of the third, as four Redbird singles and a sacrifice fly by Whitney would make it 4-0.
The Purple Aces would crack the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth with a single and two doubles to make it 4-3. UE shortstop Robbie Minor doubled to knock in one, but a perfect relay throw from left fielder Jeremy Pickrel to shortstop Chris Shepherd to catcher Greg Blaesing at home plate nailed the Evansville runner, getting the Birds out of the inning.
ISU would only get two singles in the top of the fifth, but three Redbirds walked and one was hit by a pitch, allowing three runs to cross the plate. The big hit of the inning was delivered by freshman Matt Bolt, who singled with the bases loaded driving in two, and making it 7-3.
Evansville would get three more in the bottom of the fifth to draw within one at 7-6, however that was all the scoring Illinois State would allow as Zaleski would only allow two hits over the final three innings.
Luke Baughman would get an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and the Birds would get two more in the seventh, making the final score 10-6.
In game two, Whitney reached base to lead off the game for the fourth time this weekend and would eventually come around to score to give ISU an early 1-0 lead.
Freshman Eric Theisen made the start for Illinois State and held UE scoreless in the first, but it was all downhill after that.
Evansville would get six in the second, highlighted by a three-run homer by Pat Tumilty. UE picked up two more in the third and three in the fourth, making it 11-1 after four.
Evansville starter Michael Greenhouse would walk in a run in the top of the sixth but the Purple Aces would get that run back in the bottom half to take a 12-2 lead after six.
With the 10-run rule in effect, Illinois State needed to get at least one run to move the game into the bottom of the seventh. The Birds got that run after Scott Bialobreski doubled in pinch-runner Kitt Kopach to make it 12-3.
The Purple Aces closed the door in the bottom of the seventh with a run scoring double, making it 13-3 and ending the game after seven innings.
Theisen (1-2) took the loss for ISU, as he went 3.1 innings, allowing 10 hits and 10 earned runs.
Greenhouse (3-1) picked up the win for Evansville. He went all seven innings and allowed only two earned runs, striking out four.
Illinois State will next be in action on Wednesday at Redbird Field, when they host the University of Missouri at 4:00 p.m. The Redbirds picked up a win at Mizzou on March 17, 5-2 in 11 innings.
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