Illinois States come from behind 13-6 win over Bradley (28-26-1, 10-20-1) in the second game of a doubleheader helped the Birds (21-33, 11-20) keep their conference tournament hopes alive, while eliminating the Braves from tournament contention. The Redbirds dropped the first game 9-3.
Todd Stein (4-6) went 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out four. Picking up the win for Bradley was Derek Goins (5-6), who went all seven innings, allowing only seven hits and one earned run while striking out five.
Bradley got on the board first in game one, as the first two Brave hitters singled off Stein. The pair eventually scored on a two-RBI single by Paul Rice, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead after the top of one.
Nate Whitney got one of those runs back for the Birds, as he led off the bottom of the first with a home run down the left field line, his third of the year.
BU regained the two-run lead in the top of the second. After Ross Vandehey reached on an error, he came around to score on a single by Ross Newburger, making it 3-1 Braves.
Jay Molina got in on the long ball action for the Birds, as he hit a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the third with two out, tying the game at three heading into the fourth.
Bradley again took back the lead in the top of the fifth, knocking out Stein in the process. An error by Illinois State allowed the fourth Brave run to cross the place, giving BU a 4-3 lead after the top of five. The Braves added two more in the top of the sixth, and three in the seventh to ice the win. Two of the Braves ninth inning runs were unearned and one was courtesy of a solo home run by Vandehey.
Bradley again jumped out to an early lead in game two. In the opening inning leadoff Rene Aqueron reached on a throwing error before the ensuing batter singled down the right field line to put runners on the corners. Shortstop Ryan Curry then drove a shot to left center scoring Aqueron before clean-up hitter Jonathan Smith sent one deep over the wall in left to put the Braves up 4-0.
The Redbirds battled back in the bottom of the inning. Whitney was hit by a pitch and then stole second before Matt Bolt received a base on balls. Molina singled up the middle to load the bases for first baseman Nick Crist. The freshman first baseman hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Whitney to get the Birds on the board in the bottom of the first.
Bradley tacked on another run in the third with two outs as Brad Canada reached on a fielders choice and came around to score on a double down the left field line by Rice.
ISU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the BU lead to one. Whitney led off with a walk and again stole second before Joe Burke grounded out to second, moving Whitney to third. Bolt then laced one up the middle to score Whitney. Then Molina was hit by a pitch to put two runners on the base paths. Luke Baughman walked loading the bases with two outs before Jeremy Pickrels single to left brought in two runs and cut the score to 5-4.
The Birds took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Whitney led off with a bloop single down the right field line just behind first base. Burke followed with a double to deep left field knocking in Whitney and moving all the way to third on a throwing error by Bradley. Starter Brian Spielmann then gave way to Peter Elmer. Elmer intentionally walked Molina putting Redbird runners on the corners. Molina took a big lead off first looking to go to second and Elmer was called for a balk advancing both runners and helping the Birds take a 7-5 lead.
Bradley cut into the lead again in the seventh with one run off an RBI double by Canada but it wasnt enough. The Birds showed even more resilience in the bottom of the frame with two runs off a two-RBI single by Burke, which pushed Illinois States lead to three runs. ISU added four more in the bottom of the eighth, three off a bases clearing double by Whitney.
Starter Eric Theisen (5-5) picked up the Redbird win after going six innings while giving up eight hits, five earned runs and struck out three. Two was the magic number as six different Redbirds had two hits apiece.
Bradleys Spielmann (5-2) suffered the loss. He gave up six hits and six earned runs while striking out five. Smith and Rice each had two hits for the Braves, while Smith picked up three RBI.
Illinois State and Bradley will finish off their four-game series tomorrow during a very festive day at Redbird Field. ISU will honor their five senior baseball players, Greg Blaesing, Josh Kauten, Stein, Whitney and Kyle Zaleski in a ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. Also, Illinois States 1969 National Championship team and the 1994 Missouri Valley Tournament Championship team will be honored during pregame ceremonies. Saturdays finale will also be Alumni Day and Corporate Day at the ballpark. Zaleski is slated to be the Redbird starter, with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
