May 3, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
In the fourth annual installment of the Horenberger-Bass Classic between Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan, it was the team in green from Bloomington who walked away with the traveling series trophy as the Titans (27-9) defeated the Redbirds (18-24) at Redbird Field by a score of 3-2. The series, which was reinstituted in 2004, is now tied at two games apiece.
ISU starter Eric Theisen (3-7) suffered a tough loss as he allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on eight hits while striking out four in six innings of work. IWU freshman starter Alex Tosi (4-1) was strong for the Titans, as he allowed just two earned runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings on the hill. Reliever Sean McCreary took the ball the rest of the way and threw 2.2 scoreless innings to pick up his second save of the season.
The Titans plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning, thanks to a costly Redbird error. Tim McInerney led off the inning and reached on a fielding error by ISU third baseman Mike Stalowy. He then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kraig Ladd and later scored on a RBI single by John Kratzmeyer to give IWU a 1-0 lead.
IWU would then score its second run of the game in the top of the fourth inning to widen its lead to 2-0. With one out, Ladd and Kratzmeyer collected back-to-back singles before Josh Bidzinski singled into left field to score Ladd from second base. In the top of the seventh inning, the Titans added their third run of the game with some heads-up base running from Mike Berry, who tagged up from third base as ISU second baseman Kyle Cherney caught a pop up in shallow right field for the unusual sacrifice fly.
However, the Redbirds answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the IWU lead to one run at 3-2. Kevin Dubler led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second base on a balk by Tosi. Dubler later advanced to third base on a wild pitch and then scored on a Stalowy infield single to cut the Titans' lead to 3-1. With one out and Kyle O'Brien at bat, Stalowy stole second and then scored when O'Brien doubled into centerfield to make the score 3-2. ISU would then load the bases with two outs, but left all three runners on base to end the scoring threat.
That would be as close as the `Birds would get, as McCreary shut down ISU over the next two innings to secure the IWU victory. Dubler led the way for the Redbirds with three hits and a run scored, while Stalowy chipped in with two hits, a run scored and a RBI. Kratzmeyer paced the Titans' offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Berry, Nate Rittenberry and Ricky Angel each added two hits apiece.
The Redbirds return to action on Friday in the first of three non-conference contest against the Saint Xavier Cougars. Senior Mike Hlavacek (2-2) will take the hill for the `Birds, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Redbird Field.
