Jay Molina had two RBI and was one of six Illinois State players with multiple hits, however the Redbirds dug themselves an early hole and never recovered as they fell 17-7 to Indiana University Tuesday afternoon at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Taking the loss for Illinois State was freshman Josh Eidt (0-1). In his first collegiate start, Eidt only lasted two innings and gave up four runs, although only one run was earned. Picking up the win for Indiana was Joe Trucchio (1-1), who came on in relief of starter Adam Poole in the fifth inning. Trucchio went 2.1 innings and gave up two earned runs in the outing.
Indiana (10-3) got on the board right away in the top of the first, as Joe Kemp and Ryan Parker had back to back RBI, giving the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
The Redbirds (6-8) would answer right back in the bottom of the inning as Molina would double in Matt Bolt with two outs to cut the lead to 2-1 after the first inning.
IU would tack on two more in the second, mostly as a result of some poor defense on the part of Illinois State. After the leadoff man reached on an error by first baseman Jim Kulovitz, the Hoosiers would eventually load the bases. With one out, Eidt induced a double-play ball to second baseman Lee Fischer, who flipped to shortstop Ryan Anetsberger for the turn. A hard slide caused Anetsberger's throw to first to go wild, allowing two runs to score on the play and giving Indiana a 4-1 lead.
Indiana would blow the game open in the fifth, as all nine Hoosiers would bat in the inning. IU got five runs on five hits, the biggest being a one-out, two-RBI triple by Corby Heckman, and led 9-1 after the top of the fifth.
Illinois State would show some life in the bottom half of the inning, as the 'Birds would get four runs on five hits to make the score 9-5 after five. Blake Schoonover, Kris Jenkins, Bolt and Anetsberger would all drive in runs for Illinois State in the inning.
Indiana would get those four back quickly in the seventh as the first three runners reached and Zach Boswell hit a grand slam to straight-away centerfield to push the Indiana advantage to 13-5. The Hoosiers would add two more in the inning and would take a 15-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Fischer and Molina would each have RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 15-7, but IU would get those two runs right back in the eighth and take a 17-7 lead.
Illinois State will take on Miami University (Ohio) tomorrow in their fifth game of their eight-game spring trip. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. CST from the IMG Academy Fields in Bradenton, Fla. Kitt Kopach (1-2) is set to make the start on the mound for the Redbirds.
