Illinois State battled back from a 6-1 deficit to tie the game at six, however the Redbirds couldnt get another run across and fell 10-6 Sunday afternoon at Redbird Field to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Birds got two RBI apiece from Jay Molina and Blake Schoonover in the game.
Taking the loss for Illinois State (12-14) was senior Brandon Gale (0-1). Gale pitched one inning and gave up one hit and one earned run. He was taken out in the eighth inning, leaving one runner on base for reliever Eric Theisen. The Panthers would take the lead as Gales runner would score, giving him the loss in the game. Matt Fowles started the game for ISU and was roughed up in the outing. The senior right-hander lasted only 2.1 innings, giving up six earned runs with five walks in the short outing. A bright spot on the mound for the Birds was the long-relief provided by Kitt Kopach. The sophomore came in during the third inning and allowed no runs and only three hits over the next 4.1 innings of play.
Picking up the win for Wisconsin-Milwaukee (6-12) was reliever Korey Keller (1-2). Keller pitched 3.1 innings and allowed only two hits and one unearned run while striking out two. Jed Dolske came on to pitch the ninth and recorded his third save of the season. Robert Michalkiewicz made the start for the Panthers and lasted 4.2 innings, giving up three earned runs and seven hits.
Illinois State got on the board in the bottom of the first as Molina doubled in Chris Frank to give ISU a 1-0 lead after one.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee would respond in a huge way in the top of the second, as they put up six runs in the frame. Joe Nowicki led the inning off with a double and would come into score on a single by Ross McCoy. After a walk put runners at first and second with one out, Mike Goetz singled to bring in the second run of the inning. Jeremy Wilson then executed a perfect squeeze play to bring in another run to make it 3-1 UWM. After Fowles walked another batter, Charlie Reshke provided the big blow of the inning, as he hit a three-run homer to right, giving UWM a 6-1 lead.
ISU would then chip away at the lead while Kopach would come on in relief and hold the Panthers at bay. Kyle OBrien walked to lead of the second and would come into score on a single by Schoonover to make it 6-2. In the third inning, Matt Bolt walked to lead off the inning and Molina hit his second double of the day to cut the lead to 6-3.
After being held scoreless in the fourth, ISU would get two unearned runs off of Michalkiewicz in the fifth, as Schoonover and Kris Jenkins had back-to-back RBI hits to trim the lead to 6-5.
The Birds would tie the game in the sixth when OBrien would come through with a huge two-out hit to bring in Bolt and tie the game at six.
The Panthers would have some two-out magic of their own in the eighth. With runners on first and second, Nowicki doubled off the centerfield wall off of Theisen to bring in two runs. Matt Curran followed Nowicki with an RBI-single, giving UWM a 9-6 lead after the top of the eighth.
The Panthers would add one more run in the top of the ninth on a throwing error by Anetsberger to make it a 10-6 game.
Illinois State will now hit the road for the first time in nine games, as they travel to Northern Illinois University for a 2:30 p.m. game on Tuesday afternoon. The Redbirds will then take on nationally ranked Wichita State next weekend in Wichita, Kan., in a three-game Valley series beginning on Friday night.
