April 14, 2006
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Through 31 games, the Illinois State baseball team had been shut out just twice in 2006. In Friday's series opener with the Bradley Braves, the number grew by one as senior Brandon Magee recorded his second-straight complete game shutout to defeat the Redbirds 5-0 in a Missouri Valley Conference match-up at Redbird Field. The Braves (17-14, 8-2 MVC) could only muster five hits of their own, but three ISU (11-21, 4-6 MVC) errors allowed Bradley to muster five runs and come away with its sixth straight win.
ISU starter Kitt Kopach (1-6, 2.86 ERA) suffered the loss, but pitched well. Of the five Bradley runs, just two were earned by Kopach as the right-hander struck out six hitters and allowed just five hits in seven innings of work. Magee, the reigning MVC Pitcher of the Week, allowed four hits in his nine innings while walking just on and striking out seven ISU hitters to record his second straight shutout.
Bradley got out to an early lead in the top of the second inning on a RBI single by Dan Brewer that scored Paul Rice from second for the 1-0 lead. The Braves followed with a run in the following inning on a Ryan Curry RBI single to left field, which scored Brad Jones from second base to extend the 2-0.
The Braves would then add three unearned runs on just one hit in the top of the sixth inning to put the game away 5-0. Jason Newburger scored the first run of the inning after Kevin Dubler overthrew Blake Schoonover at third base while attempting to catch Newburger stealing, which allowed the Bradley first baseman to come home and bring the score to 3-0. Rice then scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Eigsti to make the score 4-0 and the final run would score on when Brewer scored on a double steal play to push the score to 5-0 and put Bradley in the winner's column.
Three of the four ISU hits in the game were doubles, one each by Jay Molina, Kyle O'Brien and Dubler. Kris Jenkins would add the fourth Redbirds hit to round out the offense for ISU in the shutout. Brewer paced the Braves going 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Rice scored two of the five Bradley runs in the game.
Due to inclement weather forecasts for Sunday, the two teams will now play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at Redbird Field to finish out the three-game MVC weekend series. Freshman Ian Berger (2-4) will take the mound in the first game for the Redbirds, while his fellow freshman hurler Jim Sajewich (1-3) will throw game two for ISU.
In addition, tickets for Sunday's "Straight A Day" will be honored for Saturday's game due to the rescheduling.
