Matt Bolt went 3-3 and the Illinois State bullpen gave up only one unearned run in six innings of work, however the Redbirds dug themselves a 7-0 deficit through the first three innings and could never recover as they fell 7-1 to Northern Iowa in the series finale at Riverfront Stadium Sunday afternoon in Waterloo, Iowa.
Taking the loss for Illinois State (20-22, 5-10) was senior Matt Fowles (3-4). Fowles lasted only two innings and gave up only two hits, however four walks, three errors and a hit batter helped the Panthers scores six runs off the righty, three of which were earned. Eric Theisen came on to pitch in the third inning and allowed only five hits and one unearned run in five innings of work. Kitt Kopach came on to pitch the eighth inning for the Birds and did not allow a hit in his outing.
Picking up the win for Northern Iowa (19-23, 4-11) was Jake Hansen (2-2). Hansen lasted five innings and gave up three hits and no runs while striking out five.
The Panthers got on the board early in the game, as they scored three runs in the first, two of which came in on a two-RBI single by Brett Douglas, giving UNI a 3-0 lead after one.
After Fowles hit the first batter of the third and walked the next two, he was taken out of the game in favor of the sophomore Theisen. With the bases loaded and no outs the first batter Theisen faced was Douglas, who greeted the right-hander with another two-RBI, this one a double down the leftfield line. The Panthers would then take advantage of two Redbird errors, putting up four runs in the inning and extending their lead to 7-0.
The Birds would finally crack the scoring column in the top of the sixth as Kris Jenkins singled in Bolt to make it a 7-1 UNI lead, but ISU would never get any closer.
Illinois State will next be in action when they host Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday night at Redbird Field. First pitch of the second annual Bass-Horenberger Classic is set for 6:30 p.m.
