March 9, 2007
Box Score
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -
Heading into Friday's game against Southeast Missouri State, the Illinois State baseball team had won two of its three games in come-from-behind fashion. At the completion of the first game of the three-game weekend set, that number increase to three comeback wins as ISU (4-6) scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn an 8-5 win over SEMO (7-4) in front of 479 fans at Capaha Field.
Sophomore Jim Sajewich (1-1) earned the win in relief of starter Eric Theisen. The big right-hander gave up just one hit in four and two thirds innings of work and struck out one. Josh Parham (1-2) suffered the loss for SEMO, as he allowed two of the go-ahead runs on one hit and two walks.
ISU head coach Jim Brownlee was impressed with the way Sajewich pitched in relief.
"Jim is very capable of pitching the way he did today," said Brownlee. "He struggled a little bit in the beginning of the season because he wasn't throwing strikes. Today, he was hitting his spots and his velocity higher than usual. When your starter struggles, you need your relievers to step up, and Jim was just awesome today."
The Redhawks jumped out to a quick lead, as third baseman Nick Harris led off the game with a log home run to right-center field to give SEMO a 1-0 lead after the first inning of play. SEMO would then tack on its second run of the game on a RBI single by Omar Padilla in the bottom of the second inning, which brought the score to 2-0.
Illinois State would fire back with two runs of its own on three hits in the top of the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. Kyle Cherney led off the inning with a single and Collin Salzenstein followed with a single of his own to begin the inning. After Matt Bolt walked to load the bases, Ryan Anetsberger hit into a 4-6-3 double play which allowed Cherney to score the first run of the inning and Salzenstein to advance to third base. With two outs, Kevin Dubler laced a double off the centerfield wall to score Salzenstein and tie the game a two runs apiece.
After a scoreless top half of the fourth inning for the Redbirds, the Redhawks fired back with three runs on four hits to take a 5-2 lead. Padilla drove in his second run of the game to help SEMO retake the lead at 3-2 and Matt Wagner later drove in two runs on a single through the right side of the infield to widen the Redhawks' lead to 5-2. That would also knock out Theisen, who was relieved by Sajewich as he went on to record the final two outs of the inning.
Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but ISU pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the sixth inning to cut the SEMO lead to one at 5-4. Dubler led off the inning with his second double of the day and then advanced to third base on a Jesse Griswold fly out to centerfield. Kevin Konsler followed with a double of his own to score Dubler for the first run of the inning and Konsler later scored on a Dan Weston double down the right field line to bring the `Birds within one run.
ISU would then take the lead 7-5 in top of the seventh inning on three runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Salzenstein scored on a sacrifice fly by Griswold to tie the game at 5-5. Following a passed ball that allowed Anetsberger and Dubler to advance to third and second base, respectively, Konsler laced a double down the left field line to score both runners and give the `Birds the two-run lead.
Bolt would give ISU an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning with a long home run over the right field wall, his third of the season, to put the Redbirds up 8-5 headed into the bottom of the ninth inning. O'Brien came on and allowed a hit in the bottom of the ninth, but worked out of jam to record his second save of the season and lock up the 8-5 victory for the Redbirds.
Konsler led the way for the Redbirds, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI. Harris and Padilla proved to be tough outs for SEMO, as the one and two hitters each had three hits apiece. The two teams return to the field tomorrow for the second game of the three-game weekend series. Freshman Ryan Copeland (1-1. 7.85 ERA) will take the mound for the Redbirds, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
