March 12, 2008
Final Stats
BRADENTON, Fla. -
Junior Kevin Dubler batted 2-for-4 with three RBI, as a balanced hitting attack led the Illinois State baseball team to a 13-6 win over Bucknell Wednesday at the IMG Academy. Four players tallied two hits apiece, while senior Tyler Cox picked up his second win overall in his first start of the season on the mound, striking out a career-high six batters.
Dubler was effective near the top of the order, along with lead-off hitter Mike Stalowy, who finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBI. The bottom part of the order also produced, as Ronnie Calvird (2-for-4, two runs) and Kevin Konsler (2-for-4, 2 RBI) each had two hits apiece, while Dan Weston batted 1-for-2 with three RBI. Cox (2-0) threw 5.2 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, while walking none.
The Redbirds were able to build a comfortable lead in the second inning, as Illinois State put five runs on the board. Freshman Corey Maines got things started with a one-out walk and stole second base. Calvird stepped up and hit a grounder at the shortstop, who tried to throw Maines out at third. However, the throw was dropped by the Bison third baseman and all runners were safe. After Konsler was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Weston delivered a sacrifice fly to score Maines and advance the runners. Stalowy followed with an RBI double, and Dubler hit a double off the centerfield wall to plate two more runs in the inning.
"I thought during our five-run inning in the second that we really had some big hits," said Illinois State head coach Jim Brownlee. "Kevin (Dubler) had a big two-run hit, along with Stalowy's hit, and Weston also had a sacrifice fly. Those three guys helped to loosen us up, and Tyler Cox did a great job on the mound. It was good to see him perform, after coming off an arm injury in the offseason. I'm pretty happy with our pitching performance today. We were also pretty good in the batter's box and on the base paths, which has improved from earlier in the season."
After Bucknell scored two runs in the top of the fourth, the Redbirds came back in the bottom half and widened their margin to 9-2. Senior Kyle Cherney and Maines recorded back-to-back walks to open up the inning, and Calvird loaded the bases on a bunt single. Konsler hit a fly ball that fell out of the grasp of the left fielder as he dived, scoring Cherney. Weston came up and delivered again, hitting a ball into the right centerfield gap for a two-RBI double.
Illinois State scored two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh innings. The Redbirds scored in the sixth on Maines' sacrifice fly and on a single from Konsler. Stalowy and freshman Kevin Tokarski led off the seventh with singles, and after a fielder's choice, Dubler hit a triple into the left centerfield gap to score Tokarski. Pinch hitter Anthony Ruffolo collected his first RBI of the season on a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Dubler.
The Redbirds will be back in action Thursday when they take on in-state rival Eastern Illinois at the IMG Academy. First pitch is slated for 10:00 a.m. EST.
