Illinois State had one bad inning in game one and dug themselves a big hole early in game two, as they dropped both games of Saturdays doubleheader to Indiana State at Sycamore Field in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Redbirds fell in game one 6-3 and dropped game two 9-4.
Taking the loss for Illinois State (18-31, 8-19) in game one was senior Todd Stein (4-5). Stein pitched all seven innings and held the Sycamores scoreless until the sixth inning. The lefty struck out five and walked only one while allowing five earned runs.
Matt Zaleski (5-5) picked up the win for Indiana State, as he pitched a complete seven-inning game. Zaleski recorded four strikeouts and walked only one in the game.
Stein and Zaleski had quite a pitchers duel early, as the game was scoreless up until the sixth inning, when the Redbirds finally got on the board. With one out, Chris Shepherd singled and Nate Whitney was then hit by a pitch. Illinois State would load up the bases following a Sycamore error and Matt Bolt would single up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. Illinois State would leave the bases loaded in the inning.
Indiana State (20-30, 12-15) would respond in the bottom half, as the first three batters reached to load the bases. Josh Prickett, Jereme Hatler and Nevin Ashley would all follow with RBI-singles in the inning, giving Indiana State a 3-1 lead. With two outs and runners on second and third, Barry Warn tripled over the head of Whitney in centerfield to drive in two. As Warn slid in to third, a relay throw form the shortstop Shepherd went into the dugout, allowing Warn to score. When the dust settled, Indiana State had put up six and led 6-1 heading into the top of the seventh.
With the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, Whitney hit into a fielder choice to score a run and bring it to a 6-2 deficit. With runners on the corners, Zaleski would balk in another run, but 6-3 would be as close as Illinois State would get.
Game two started off with both teams hitting the ball all over the field. Illinois State got three runs on three hits in the top of the first, including a two-RBI single by Joe Burke.
The Sycamores answered back quickly however, as they got four runs off Redbird starter Kyle Zaleski (no relation to Matt of Indiana State) in the bottom of the first, however only one of the first four Indiana State runs were earned.
After holding Illinois State scoreless in the top of the second, Indiana State would put up three more in the bottom half, as three singles, combined with a Redbird error gave Indiana State a 7-3 lead after two and the Redbirds were never able to get back in the game.
Zaleski (3-2) took the loss for Illinois State, as he went five innings, allowing nine hits and eight runs, however only two of the eight runs were earned.
Brian Woods (3-5) got the win for Indiana State. The right-hander went all nine innings, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs.
Illinois State and Indiana State will finish their four game series on Sunday, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. from Sycamore Field. Freshman Eric Theisen will take the mound for Illinois State. Gametracker will be available to follow along with the live-scoring at www.redbirds.org.
