April 29, 2008
Final Stats
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -
With the bases-loaded and the Illinois State baseball team trailing a run in the top of the eighth inning, senior Kevin Konsler crushed the first pitch he saw for a grand-slam to give the Redbirds the lead for good. Konsler's four-bagger propelled the Redbirds to a 7-4, come-from-behind win over crosstown rival Illinois Wesleyan in the fifth annual Horenberger-Bass Classic Tuesday night at Horenberger Field. The Redbirds' (19-22) win also gave Jim Brownlee his 830th victory as a collegiate head coach.
Konsler (1-for-4) led the Redbird offense, as the right fielder hit his second home run of the season and tied his career-high with four RBI. Junior Kevin Dubler finished 2-for-3 with a double, while sophomore Anthony Ruffolo finished 2-for-4 with a double, which came in the eighth inning and cut the Titans' lead to one to the stage for Konsler's heroics. Junior Dan Sorce (1-1) was solid in relief, as the left-hander picked up his first win of the season after throwing 4.1 innings. Sorce allowed two runs on four hits, while senior Eric Theisen picked up his third save of the season after entering the game with one out in the ninth inning.
Junior Mike Stalowy also extended his hitting streak to 12 games, as the first baseman went 1-for-5 with a run scored. Sophomore Jacob Wielebnicki started the game for the Redbirds and allowed two runs on four hits in four innings of work.
"Kevin got the pitch that he liked. It was a fastball on the inner half of the plate and he was ready to hit," said Brownlee. "Alex Tosi was the guy that beat us last year, so it was kind of fitting that we put it on him. Anthony also had two big hits tonight (Tuesday). We weren't very good offensively, but I think it's a hard field to hit on until the sun goes down. Dan Sorce also had a big outing. That's what we have expected out of him all year. It was good for him to be able to step up and provide us with a lift from the bullpen."
The Redbird rally in the top of the eighth began when freshman Kevin Tokarski walked and Stalowy followed with an infield single. Dubler was walked to load the bases, and Ruffolo lined a double that landed just fair down the left field line to score both Tokarski and Stalowy and cut the lead to one, 4-3. After senior Kyle Cherney was intentionally walked to load the bases again, Konsler stepped up and drilled the first pitch he saw from Tosi deep to left field for a grand slam, which gave the `Birds a 7-4 advantage.
Sorce was able to retire the Titans in order in the eighth but ran into trouble in the nnth after he gave up a one-out double to shortstop Mike Cunningham. After Theisen entered the game and was able to record a groundout, second baseman Ricky Angel followed with a walk. Left fielder Kraig Ladd caught the Redbird defense off-guard when he bunted for a single to load the bases. However, Theisen was able to force the next batter to line out to left field to end the game.
The Titans got on the board first, as Illinois Wesleyan was able to put together a rally in the bottom of the third. Cunningham was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and center fielder Tim McInerney followed with a triple to right field to plate the first run. Angel grounded out to second to bring home McInerney, and the Titans continued to threaten after another runner reached base on a single. Kevin Goshorn then delivered a base hit down the left field line, but left fielder Dan Weston tracked down the line drive and fired a strike to Cherney, who in turn threw a strike to Dubler at the plate in time to end the threat.
The Redbirds had a chance to answer the Titans in the top of the fourth, as Dubler and Ruffolo hit back-to-back singles to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Cherney stepped up and lined the first pitch he saw, however, it was hit right at the IWU second baseman, who flipped it to second to double up Ruffolo and end the Redbirds' rally.
Illinois State cut the deficit to one after freshman Ronnie Calvird singled with one out in the top of the fifth. Junior Quinn Ewert followed with walk, and both runners moved into scoring position on a groundout from Weston. IWU relief pitcher Matt Caruso allowed Calvird to score when he threw a wild pitch, but got out of the jam when Tokarski lined out to the first baseman. The Titans responded and added two runs in the bottom half of the fifth on a two-run home run from Angel to the power alley in left field.
The Redbirds will play host to St. Louis Wednesday in a non-conference matchup at Duffy Bass Field. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
