Illinois State got a complete game out of starter Kyle Zaleski but the offense only produced three runs, as the Redbirds fell 5-3 to Southwest Missouri State in front of 3,053 fans at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo., on Sunday afternoon.
Zaleski (3-1) lost his first game of the season on Sunday, as he pitched all eight innings, allowing five earned runs and ten hits while striking out six and walking one.
Picking up the win for SMS was David Smith (3-3). Smith went eight innings and gave up three runs while striking out three and walking two.
For the fourth time in as many games, SMS was the first team to score, as Jud Kindle led off the second inning with a homerun down the leftfield line to give the Bears a 1-0 lead after two.
The Redbirds (16-29, 7-17) responded and tied the game in the top of the third, when Matt Bolt reached on fielders choice, driving in Joe Peterson.
The Bears (30-20, 19-8) would then throw up four in the fourth, as the first four batters of the inning would all get hits. Kirk McConnell hit a double with two outs to drive in the final two runs in the inning, giving SMS a 5-1 lead.
ISU would then put up runs in consecutive innings, as Brian Wilkin and Jay Molina would have RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, cutting the SMS deficit to 5-3 after the top of the seventh.
Illinois State would get the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, however they were unable to score.
Illinois State will return to action on Tuesday, when they host the Murray State Thoroughbreds at 6:00 p.m. at Redbird Field. The two teams will play again at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
