Matt Bolt went 2-5 with one RBI but Illinois State gave up two runs in the first inning and never recovered, as the Redirds dropped the final game of a three game series with Stetson University 10-4 at Melching Park in DeLand, Fla.
Sophomore Dan Frega (0-1) made the start for the Redbirds and took the loss. Frega went four innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. Picking up the win for Stetson was senior Cy McCuen (1-0), who went 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and recording six strikeouts.
Stetson (4-2) put up multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, as Chris Johnson and John DeStefano both had two-out RBI to give the Hatters a 2-0 lead after one.
Illinois State (1-2) would answer back in the third, as Bolt singled in Lee Fischer from third with two outs to cut the Stetson lead to 2-1. The Hatters would answer back in the bottom half of the inning, as DeStefano would double in a run and score on the next play, after third baseman Blake Schoonover misplayed a ground ball of the bat of Jon Still, making it 4-1 Stetson after three.
DeStefano continued his assault on Redbird pitching in the fifth when he hit a two-run home run to leftfield, knocking in his third and fourth RBI of the game, giving Stetson a 6-1 lead.
The Birds rallied back in the top of the sixth, as sophomore Joe Burke got a run home for ISU with a sac fly to left to score Bolt and make it 6-2. Following Burkes RBI, Nick Crist tripled home Jay Molina and Kris Jenkins knocked in Crist with a fielders choice, making it 6-4 Stetson after the top of the sixth.
The Hatters got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, as Luke Baughman walked DeStefano to walk in a run. Stetson would add to that lead in the eighth, as Brian Bocock homered to left to make it 9-4 and DeStefano was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making it 10-4. DeStefano had six RBI on the day.
Illinois State will next be in action on Friday, February 25, when they take on David Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn., at 2:00 p.m. The Redbirds will play three games next weekend in Nashville, taking on Vanderbilt on Saturday and Belmont on Sunday.
