April 19, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State baseball team rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were unable to overcome a four-run deficit, as the Redbirds (15-18) lost, 7-6, to Chicago State Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field.
Junior Kevin Dubler finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI, but the Redbirds' six through nine hitters combined to bat just 1-for-14 during the non-conference matchup. Sophomore Ryan Copeland (4-4) suffered the defeat, as the left-hander surrendered seven runs (five earned) on 13 hits while walking one and striking out a career-high 11 batters. Freshman Kevin Tokarski finished 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two stolen bases, while sophomore Anthony Ruffolo finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The Redbirds were unable to close the door when the Cougars were in the batter's box, as ISU surrendered five runs with two outs. Illinois State also struggled to bring home runners, as the `Birds stranded 10 runners on base.
"We just didn't hit during the game. Chicago State was ready to play and we weren't focused before the game," said head coach Jim Brownlee. "We knew that this was going to be a catch game because we were playing a team that hasn't had a lot of success this year. We weren't mentally ready before the ballgame, and you have to bring it every day in order to win. If you let a team hang around, they are going to hurt you. I give Chicago State credit because they had a lot of two-out hits."
The Redbirds got on the board first in the bottom half of the first, as junior Mike Stalowy led off the inning with a single but was thrown out trying to advance to third after Tokarski reached on a fielder's choice. Tokarski moved to third on failed pick-off attempt from Cougar starting pitcher Robert Vargas, and came around to score on a groundout from Dubler.
Chicago State was able to re-group from their early miscues in the field and take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. The Cougars began a two-out rally when Lacelle McKinley singled up the middle and moved Michael Carpen to second, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice. Designated hitter Chris Goya then delivered a two-run double down the right field line to give the Cougars the lead.
Illinois State got a run back in the fourth, when Redshirt freshman Ryan Court hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Ronnie Calvird, who walked to lead off the frame.
But the Cougars were able to put together another two-out rally, as they scored three runs on four-straight hits to give CSU a 5-2 margin. The Redbirds came back in the seventh and added a run, after freshman Corey Maines doubled down the left field line and moved to third on a wild pitch. Stalowy plated Maines on a sacrifice fly, his sixth of the season.
After Chicago State padded their lead in the ninth with two runs, Illinois State was able to bring itself back into the game, when Stalowy and Tokarski recorded back-to-back walks with one out. Dubler delivered a line drive down the right field line, allowing both runners to score easily. The Redbirds then cut the Cougars' lead to one (7-6) when Dubler was brought home on a RBI-single from Ruffolo. Calvird kept the threat going when he hit a bloop single to right field, while both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch from CSU reliever Chris Freshour. But Freshour was able to end the threat when he got senior Kyle Cherney to ground out to second after he put the third baseman in a 3-2 count.
The Redbirds will wrap up their eight-game homestand when they face Chicago State Sunday in doubleheader, beginning at Noon at Duffy Bass Field.
