April 15, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
With the score tied at six with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior Kevin Dubler stepped up and lined the first pitch he saw into the left center field gap, scoring two runs and powering the Illinois State baseball team (14-17) to a 8-6 victory over in-state rival Illinois-Chicago Tuesday night at Duffy Bass Field. Dubler's double snapped the Redbirds' four-game losing streak, as the come-from-behind win gave Illinois State its first at home in 2008.
Senior Eric Theisen (4-4), who entered the game in the eighth inning, was able to close out the game and pick up his fourth win of the season. Dubler was one of five Redbird batters to record RBI, as senior Kevin Konsler (1-for-3), junior Mike Stalowy (1-for-4), sophomore Gabe DeMarco (1-for-4) and sophomore Anthony Ruffolo (1-for-1) all chipped in with an RBI apiece. Freshman Ben Hays threw 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four.
After the Redbirds fell behind, 6-4, through seven and a half innings, freshman Ronnie Calvird started the Redbird rally when he was hit by a pitch to open up the bottom half of the seventh. Calvird moved to second on a wild pitch, and Konsler drove a double to left field to score the second baseman. Ruffolo, who came into the game as a pinch hitter for freshman Corey Maines, followed with a single that scored Konsler and tied the game at six runs apiece.
Junior Eric Mahler pinch ran for Ruffolo and advanced into scoring position on wild pitch, while freshman Kevin Tokarski (1-for-2, two stolen bases) walked to set the stage for Dubler's heroics.
"I thought Kevin Konsler and Anthony Ruffolo came through with some big hits, and (Kevin) Dubler had a really big hit to drive home the winning runs," said head coach Jim Brownlee. "We really did a good job running the bases in the eighth inning, as Eric Mahler had a heads-up play by moving to second base on a ball in the dirt. It was just a fun inning. Those guys picked us up after falling behind two runs. Our freshmen pitchers also threw well, which was a good sign."
The Flames got on the board first, as Illinois-Chicago plated two runs on two Redbird miscues in the second inning. The Redbirds came back in the third, as junior Quinn Ewert and Konsler walked to open up the inning. Maines moved both players into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but UIC starting pitcher Chris Kovacevich's throw to first was high, allowing Ewert to score and move Konsler to third. Stalowy followed with a single that dribbled down the left field line to score Konsler and DeMarco gave ISU a 4-2 lead with a RBI single.
The Redbirds' lead was short lived, as Illinois-Chicago scored a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-4 advantage. The Flames capitalized on a Redbird error in the fifth, as Hays' throw to first base on sacrifice bunt was high, which allowed a run to score from second base. The Flames also manufactured a run in the inning when they plated a run on a ground out from first baseman Brett Schaefer.
Freshman Kyle Nelson then came into the game and stopped the UIC rally, as the right-hander threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Redbirds will continue their eight-game homestand when they host Robert Morris College Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday's game is also "Dollar Wednesday" at Duffy Bass Field, as admission and hot dogs (provided by Sodexho) are only $1.
