March 4, 2007
Box Score
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -
After a disappointing extra-inning loss in Saturday's game with Louisville, the Illinois State baseball team staged a comeback of its own on Sunday as ISU (3-6) scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to come back and earn a 8-4 victory over the Cardinals (6-5).
ISU's Tyler Cox (1-0) earned the win for the Redbirds in relief of starter Luke Baughman. Cox gave up just one hit in two innings of work while striking out two batters. Kyle Thornton (0-1) suffered the loss for Louisville, after giving up six earned runs on five hits while not recording an out.
Illinois State head coach Jim Brownlee thought his team bounced back strong from Saturday's disappointing loss.
"I'm very proud of our kids for the way they responded today," said Brownlee. "We played very well defensively and Tyler and the rest of our bullpen responded in the later innings to help us win. A comeback win like against a good team like Louisville is something we can really build on heading into our spring trip next week."
The Redbirds got the scoring started in the top of the second inning on a leadoff home run by Jesse Griswold, his third of the season, to put ISU up 1-0. Louisville would answer with a run of its own on a solo home run by Daniel Burton to tie the game at 1-1 after two innings of play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cardinals would score once again via the home run, this time on a three-run shot by Isaiah Howes, to take a 4-1 lead over the Redbirds. The next three innings would go scoreless for both squads until ISU scored a run in top of the eighth inning to cut the lead in half at 4-2. Matt Bolt led off the top of the inning for the Redbirds and hit a solo home run over the right field wall, his second of the season and of the series, to cut into the Louisville lead.
In the top of the ninth inning, though, the Redbirds would explode for six runs on six hits to comeback and win the game 8-4. Kevin Konsler singled up the middle to begin the inning and Kyle O'Brien followed with a double to left center, which advanced Konsler to third. Kyle Cherney then singled to left field, which scored Konsler and O'Brien to tie the game at 4-4.
Dan Weston was up next and reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt that advanced Cherney to second base. Collin Salzenstein followed with a bunt single that loaded the bases with no one out. A wild pitch from Thornton allowed Cherney to score and advanced both the runners, giving ISU the lead at 5-4. An RBI single by Bolt then scored Weston to put the `Birds up 6-4. Still with no outs in the inning, Ryan Anetsberger singled to left field which scored Salzenstein and made the score 7-4.
Kevin Dubler flied out to center field for the first run of the inning and Bolt and Anetsberger both tagged up and advanced a base, giving ISU runners on second and third with one out. Jesse Griswold was then intentionally walked to load the bases and Konsler reached on a fielder's choice to earn a RBI and push the final run of the game across the plate for ISU.
Bolt paced the Redbird offense with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI in the victory while Cherney also collected three hits and two RBI. Burton paved the way for Louisville with two hits and a RBI, while Howes' three RBI led all players.
The Redbirds return to action next weekend when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to take on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks in a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, March 9.
