Illinois State was able to score in the first inning but they failed to hold the lead as they fell to Belmont University 4-2 at Greer Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., in the final day of action at the Music City Classic. ISU finishes the weekend at 1-2.
Taking the loss for Illinois State (2-4) was sophomore Dan Frega (0-2). Frega went 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs and five hits while striking out three. Picking up the win for the Bruins (6-2) was senior Cody Blackard (2-1). The lefty tossed a gem for Belmont, as he went 8.0 innings and had six strikeouts while only allowing four hits and no earned runs.
Illinois State was able to get on the board in the first inning thanks to some miscues by the Bruins. Ryan Anetsberger would lead the game off with a double and would come into score when Belmont botched a double-play later in the inning. But as has been a problem all season long, the Redbirds were not able to keep Belmont off the board in the first, as Dennis Gomez singled in a run to tie the game at one. In all six games this season, Illinois State has given up at least one run in the first inning.
The score would remain 1-1 until Belmont took the lead in the sixth inning on a Ben Petsch single, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Bruins after six.
Reliever Josh Eidt would enter the game for Frega in the seventh and quickly run into trouble. With runners on first and second and one out, Eidt balked to advance the runners a base and then threw a wild pitch to bring a run home. With two outs, Wilson Tucker would double down the leftfield line to bring in another run, making the score 4-1 after seven.
Illinois State would get its final run in the eighth, when Kris Jenkins would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
Illinois State will next be in action on Friday, March 4, when they travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky to take on Western Kentucky University in a three-game series. Fridays series opener begins at 2:00 p.m. at Nick Denes Field.
