April 9, 2006
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OMAHA, Neb. - Sunday baseball games in college baseball are known for their high scores and abundance of hitting, but the Illinois State Redbirds and the No. 23 Creighton Bluejays took it to a whole new level on Sunday. The two teams combined for 36 hits and 27 runs in the finale of a three-game weekend Missouri Valley Conference series, with the Redbirds (10-19, 4-5 MVC) getting the better of the hitting display with a season-high 23 hits and 14 runs thanks in part to a perfect 6-for-6 day a the plate from sophomore Ryan Anetsberger to defeat the Bluejays (20-8, 5-4 MVC) 14-13 at the CU Sports Complex.
Junior Dan Frega (1-3) earned the win in relief and spoiled the Creighton attempt at a series sweep, pitching an inning and a third and allowing no runs on two hits to close out the game for ISU. Creighton reliever Scott Reese (1-4) suffered the loss, after surrendering the three go-ahead ISU runs in the top of the ninth inning.
The Redbirds wasted no time in getting an early lead, scoring three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Senior first baseman Jay Molina tripled off the wall in center field to lead off the game and scored in the next at bat when Matt Bolt singled through the right side of the infield to make the score 1-0. After Anetsberger singled and Jesse Griswold walked, the 'Birds had the bases loaded with no outs.
Bolt then scored the second run of the inning after a wild pitch by Mancuso to push the lead to 2-0. Following a Kris Jenkins strikeout, Kyle O'Brien reached base on a throwing error by Creighton second baseman Chad Ogden allowing Anetsberger to score from third base and extend the lead to 3-0 after the top of the first inning.
However, the Jays answered with two runs on two hits in the bottom half of the first inning to cut into the ISU lead 3-2. But, the Redbird offense was not done as two more runs were put on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. With one out, Kevin Dubler ripped a shot to left field that landed in the net over the wall for his third home run of the season to bring the score 4-2. Bolt followed with his second single of the day and after advancing to second on a balk, Anetsberger tripled to the gap in right-center field to bring in Bolt and widen the lead at 5-2.
A two-out double by Brian Davis and a RBI single from Blake Schoonover produced the 'Birds sixth run of the day, making the score 6-2 going into the bottom of the third inning. A two-run single by Kris Jenkins in the top half of the fourth inning stretched the ISU lead to six runs at 8-2, their fourth straight inning with at least one run to begin the game.
After a scoreless top half of the fifth inning for the Redbirds, the Jays clawed their way back into the game with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. A pair of doubles to left-center field by Zach Daeges and Chase Odenreider, a two-run by Daeges and a one-run by Odenreider, pushed the runs across home plate for the Jays and cut into the Redbirds' lead at 8-5 after five innings.
ISU would add two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a RBI single by Brian Davis, who would later score on a throwing error by Ogden at shortstop while attempting to throw out Dubler on a fielder's choice. The 10-5 lead would not be safe for long, as Creighton would answer with four runs in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of a Daeges RBI single to center field and a three-run home run from Darin Ruf to cut the ISU lead to one at 10-9 heading into the eighth inning.
A sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter Kevin Konsler drove in Anetsberger from third base to add a run for the Redbirds in the top of the eighth inning, bringing the score to 11-9 with the Jays coming to the plate. The bottom of the eighth proved dangerous for ISU as the Jays scored four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run by Chris Gradoville to deep center field, and took the lead for the first time in the game at 13-11.
The wild game got even crazier in the top of the ninth, as the Redbirds scored three runs to re-take the lead at 14-13. Jay Molina scored on a fielder's choice by Griswold to start the rally and Bolt scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at 13-13. Kris Jenkins' RBI double to right center field scored Griswold to take the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Creighton threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but reliever Dan Frega shut down the threat and secured the Redbird 14-13 win.
Anetsberger finished the day a perfect 6-for-6 with three runs scored and a RBI to lead the Redbirds to the victory, while Jenkins continued his hot hitting of late going 3-for-5 with three RBI including the go-ahead run in the ninth. Ruf and Daeges each chipped in four RBI for the Bluejays in the loss, while Gradoville finished 3-for-five with three RBI and a home run.
The Redbirds return to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Redbird Field to complete the home-and-home series with intra-state foe Northern Illinois. The Huskies defeated the Redbirds last week in DeKalb, Ill., 11-8 and the Redbirds will look to even up the season series 1-1 with a win.
