May 2, 2006
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -
In the third installment of the Horenberger-Bass Classic, the Illinois State Redbirds were looking retain the traveling trophy that stays with the winner of the year's previous game, after winning a thrilling 7-6 game last year at Redbird Field. This year's game was a bit easier for ISU (16-27) who held IWU (23-12) to just two runs and four hits to earn an 8-2 victory at Horenberger Field and retain the trophy.
ISU starter Luke Baughman (4-5), a Normal Community graduate, pitched well in front of a hometown crowd and allowed two runs on three hits in five innings to earn the victory for the Redbirds. IWU starter Luke Inzinga (2-3) suffered the loss for the Titans after allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings of work on the mound.
The Titans got on the scoreboard early to take a 1-0 advantage after the first inning. After Baughman recorded two quick outs to start the inning, Nick Chilczenkowski singled to and advanced to second base when Joe Howard reached on an error by ISU shortstop Blake Schoonover. Following a Rob Cummings single, the Titans loaded the bases for Brain McCabe, who walked and forced in Chilczenkowski for the 1-0 lead.
However, that lead would not be safe for long as the Redbirds answered with a run in the top of the second on Kyle O'Brien RBI single that scored Kevin Dubler to knot the score at 1-1. Following a scoreless third inning by both teams, the `Birds exploded for four runs in the top of the fourth inning to jump out to a four-run lead.
With two outs in the inning, O'Brien was hit by an Inzinga pitch and then advanced to third base on a Chris Frank single. Schoonover then made up for his earlier error with a RBI single that scored O'Brien to give ISU the lead at 2-1. Matt Bolt was due up next and roped a triple into the right-center field gap to send home Frank and Schoonover and bring the score to 4-1. Jesse Griswold completed the four-run scoring barrage with a double to left field that scored Bolt and extend the lead to 5-1.
IWU would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, however, off the bat of McCabe who launched a home run over the left field fence to cut the lead to 5-2.
That run would be the last the Titans would produce on the night, while the Redbirds continued to score with ease. Dubler's team-leading fourth home run of the season widened the lead to 6-2 in the top of the fifth inning. After a scoreless sixth inning, Frank brought home Dubler with a RBI single in the top of the seventh to bring the score to 7-2. The final run of the night for the Redbirds was scored in the top of the eighth inning on a Ryan Anetsberger sacrifice fly to bring the score to its final of 8-2.
Bolt finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to pace the ISU offense, and also extended his hitting streak to nine games. Frank also chipped in three hits and a RBI for the Redbirds, while Dubler scored three of the eight runs in the game for the `Birds.
ISU returns to action tomorrow when they make up a game with the Missouri Tigers at 3 p.m. at Redbird Field. The original game was scheduled for March 22, but had to be postponed due to snow on the field.
