April 5, 2008
Final Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
Seniors Tyler Cox and Eric Theisen were sharp on the mound, as the duo combined to throw a two-hit shutout, while freshman Kevin Tokarski batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored, as the Illinois State baseball team (12-13, 2-6 MVC) recorded a doubleheader sweep over Evansville Saturday. The Redbirds won, 7-0, in a Missouri Valley Conference game at Braun Stadium.
Senior Kyle Cherney also had a nice day at the plate, as the third baseman batted 2-for-5 with an RBI. The win gave the Redbirds their first doubleheader sweep since March 31, 2007, when ISU took two games from Missouri State.
Cox (3-0) had his best outing in a Redbird uniform, as the Danville, Ill., native did not allow a hit until the bottom of the seventh inning. At one point in the game, Cox retired 12-straight batters, as Cox shut down the Aces in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings. While Cox put five runners on via walks, he was able to neutralize their impact by recording a career-high seven strikeouts. Cox, who threw a season-high 102 pitches, had his no-hit bid broken by Derek Melton in the seventh, when the first baseman took a 0-2 pitch and laced it into right field for a single.
Theisen came into the game after Cox walked the leadoff batter in the eighth inning and proceeded to throw two innings of hitless ball. Theisen needed only 25 pitches to close out the game, as he retired all six batters he faced.
"I thought we pitched well, as it was about as good of a pitching day as I've ever had," said head coach Jim Brownlee. "I thought Cox was lights out, and Eric has improved in each of his last two outings. I think he will only get better once the warm weather gets here. I thought both of those guys were outstanding. I'm really happy for Tyler because it was his first start in the league and he was able to work his way out of a jam in the first inning."
The `Birds picked up where they left off in the first inning, as junior Mike Stalowy was hit by the first pitch of the game. Tokarski followed with a single, and Cherney extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-RBI single to right field. Junior Kevin Dubler helped add another run to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Dubler led off the inning by hitting a line drive down the right field line for a stand-up double, and later scored on a single through the right side from freshman Ronnie Calvird.
Illinois State added two more insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Dan Weston led off with a walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice from freshman Corey Maines. Stalowy moved Weston to third on a ground out to the second baseman and Tokarski followed with a walk to put runners on the corners with two out. Tokarski stole second for his first bag of the game, while both runners advanced on a wild pitch with Dubler at-bat. After Dubler walked, pinch hitter Anthony Ruffolo recorded his second pinch-hit of the day, an infield single that scored Tokarski and gave Illinois State a comfortable 5-0 lead.
The Redbirds continued to separate themselves, as they put two more runs on the board in the top of the ninth. After Calvird and Weston reached base via a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Calvird came around to score on a wild pitch and Weston moved to third on the play. Maines plated the final run on his second sacrifice fly of the day.
The Redbirds will wrap up their three-game set at Evansville Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
