April 27, 2008
Final Stats
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -
Junior Mike Stalowy extended his hitting streak to 11 games, as he batted 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI, but the Illinois State baseball team (18-22, 3-12 MVC) surrendered seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Redbirds rallied but could not prevail, as Illinois State fell, 8-4, to Missouri State in the finale of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series Sunday at Hammons Field.
Stalowy led three Redbirds who recorded two hits, as freshman Kevin Tokarski finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI and senior Kevin Konsler batted 2-for-4 with a double. The Redbird offense also out-hit MSU, 11-7. Freshman Ben Hays (1-2) suffered the loss, as the right-hander last only one inning. Hays surrendered seven runs on four hits, but only two of those were earned due to three miscues in the field by the `Birds. Freshman Kyle Nelson provided a lift out of the bullpen, as the right-hander threw six innings and allowed only one run on three hits. Nelson tied his career-high with four strikeouts.
The Redbirds were able to get on the board in the top of the first, after Tokarski reached on a fielder's choice and stole his 30th base of the season to move into scoring position. Junior Kevin Dubler stepped up and delivered a double to the right centerfield gap to plate Tokarski and give Illinois State an early 1-0. But the lead would be short-lived, as three errors and four hits in the bottom of the inning led to seven runs, highlighted by shortstop Chris Playter's bases-clearing triple to centerfield.
"Four errors didn't help our situation, as Ben needed help after we scored in the first inning," said head coach Jim Brownlee. "We felt good about ourselves after the top of the first, but then we booted the ball around and gave up seven runs. You always have to be ready when you are in the field. The ball always seems to find the guy that isn't ready to go. We battled back and had a chance to win. We pitched well all weekend, and I'm really excited about Kyle Nelson's outing. We also out-hit them in two-of-three games, but we didn't run the bases well during the series."
But the `Birds showed some resiliency, as Konsler started the rally in the top of the second with a two-out single to right field with two outs. Sophomore Dan Weston followed with a four-pitch walk, and Stalowy followed with a double to right centerfield to score both Konsler and Weston. Tokarski then delivered a single to centerfield to score Stalowy, which cut the Bears' margin to 7-4. The Bears came back in the bottom of the second and scored a run on a solo home run to right from third baseman Brayden Drake.
Nelson found his rhythm, as he retired the Bears in order in the third through fifth innings, with the exception of a single in the fourth inning with one out. However, the runner was thrown out as he tried to steal second. Nelson got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half of the sixth and retired the Bears in order in the seventh to keep the Redbirds in the game.
Illinois State started another rally during the top of the ninth, as Konsler led off with a double and Weston singled to put two runners on with nobody out. Stalowy then hit a line drive to second, but MSU second baseman Matt Welch leaped and made the catch, and threw to second to double-up Konsler. Tokarski followed with a double down the left field line to move Weston to third, but Bears closer Matt Frevert came into the game and retired Dubler on a pop fly to centerfield to end the ballgame.
The Redbirds will face Illinois Wesleyan in the annual Horenberger-Bass Classic Tuesday (April 29) at Horenberger Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
