April 7, 2007
Box Score
WATERLOO, Iowa -
It took two days for the Illinois State baseball team to finish its seventh Missouri Valley Conference game of the season, but the result was a positive one for the Redbirds as a go-ahead two-run home run by Matt Bolt in the top of the ninth inning led ISU (13-14, 4-3 MVC) to a 10-9 victory over the Northern Iowa Panthers (11-15, 1-6 MVC) at Waterloo Riverfront Stadium on Saturday. The game was started on Friday, but had to be suspended until Saturday due to cold and windy conditions.
ISU reliever Jim Sajewich (2-1) earned the win, after pitching in all four innings on Saturday. The big right-hander did not allow a run and gave up just two hits while striking out three UNI batters. Bryan Westphal (2-1) suffered the loss for UNI, after allowing the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning and walking one in 1.1 innings of relief.
Redbird head coach Jim Brownlee was proud of the way his team played on Saturday, beginning with the work of Sajewich on the mound.
"Sajewich really set the tone for us on the mound today," said Brownlee. "He had a tough job in front of him continuing that game today, but he shut them down for four innings and allowed Bolt to win the game with the home run for us. It was one of the more enjoyable games I've been a part of as a coach and definitely one of the longest games I've ever coached in."
The `Birds jumped out to a quick lead on Friday, scoring three runs on just one hit and four walks to take an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With runners on second and third and no outs, Kevin Dubler singled into right field and scored Collin Salzenstein from third base to give ISU its first run of the day. Kyle O'Brien then walked with the bases loaded to bring in Ryan Anetsberger from third base for the second run of the frame. Kevin Konsler then reached on an error by UNI shortstop Brandon Douglas, which allowed Dubler to score the third and final run of the inning.
UNI came back immediately by scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning off ISU starter Eric Theisen to tie the game at 3-3. In the top of the fourth inning, ISU regained the lead at 7-3 with four runs courtesy of some wild UNI pitching. With nobody out and O'Brien led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second base on an error. He then advanced to third base on a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Konsler. The `Birds then loaded the bases and Mike Tokarski and Salzenstein scored on wild pitches to bring the score to 6-3. Bolt then scored on a balk for the fourth run of the inning and ISU widened the lead to four runs with just two hits on the scoreboard.
Unfortunately for the Redbirds, the Panthers came right back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take their first lead of the game at 8-7. The Panthers then tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to widen their lead to two runs at 9-7.
That is where the game would be suspended and then picked up today in the top of the sixth inning. ISU didn't waste any time, as Jesse Griswold doubled to bring in Mike Stalowy from second base to bring the `Birds within one run at 9-8. The score would stay that way thanks to strong pitching from Sajewich until the top of the ninth inning.
With two outs and pinch hitter Anthony Ruffolo at third base, Bolt connected for his fifth home run of the season, a rocket over the right field wall, to put ISU up 10-9 headed into the bottom of the ninth inning. Sajewich would then shut down the Panthers in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the two-day game for ISU.
