Jay Molina had three RBI, including the game winner in the bottom of the tenth, and Eric Theisen struck out a career-high nine batters to lead Illinois State to a 4-3 victory over Murray State Tuesday night at Redbird Field in Normal, Ill.
Picking up the win for Illinois State was freshman Dan Frega (2-0). Frega pitched the tenth inning for Illinois State and did not allow a hit while recording one strikeout. Fellow freshman Theisen went nine solid innings for ISU in the start, giving up only six hits and three earned runs in addition to his nine strikeouts.
West Harris (1-5) took the loss in relief for Murray State. He went 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.
Illinois State (17-29) got on the board first, in the first, when Molina singled in Matt Standish to give ISU a 1-0 lead.
Murray State (14-31) would tie the game in the third, after Alex Stewart would hit a sac fly to center to score Bo Baxter and tie the game at one.
Molina would get his second RBI of the game when he knocked in Matt Bolt, who doubled and then moved up to third on a wild pitch, to make the score 2-1 in favor of ISU.
The Redbirds held the lead until MSU head coach Rob McDonald pressed the right button in the eighth. With two outs, McDonald brought in pinch-hitter Jamie Leidolf with two on. Leidolf responded with a double to left-center, giving the Thoroughbreds a 3-2 lead after the top of the eighth.
Down to their final three outs, Greg Blaesing led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to rightfield. Jake Milligan than pinch-ran for Blaesing and quickly stole second. Freshman Kyle OBrien then had one of, if not the best at bat of his young career, as he battled for nine pitches, including fouling off four with two strikes, before lacing one into right field to score Milligan and tie the game at three.
Frega came on to pitch in the tenth and held the Breds bats at bay, giving his team a chance to win it in the bottom half.
Nate Whitney led the inning off with a walk, but then was thrown out trying to steal second. After Standish grounded out for the second out of the inning, Bolt was hit by a pitch. Bolt would then steal second as Molina battled at the plate. With two strikes, Molina hit a high fly ball to shallow right field. Murray State rightfielder Scotty Scott made a diving try, but the ball fell in front of him, no more than two feet in fair territory, as Molina double proved to be the game winner.
The two teams will play their second and final game against each other on Wednesday, with the first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. at Redbird Field. Freshman Kitt Kopach (0-0) will make the start for ISU.
