Oct. 19, 2009
Final Box and Play-by-play in PDF Format 
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State junior college transfer Ty Wiesemeyer belted a double and a triple to knock in and score a run to lead the Black team to a 3-2 victory over the Red team in the Redbirds' first intrasquad game of the annual fall series.
With the score tied, 2-2, through six innings, Wiesemeyer tripled to right center off Steve Maher with one out in the top of the seventh. Maher intentionally walked Brett Thaden to set up a potential double play, but Gabe DeMarco drove the first pitch to left field that was deep enough for Wiesemeyer to score on the sacrifice fly.
The lead held up in the bottom half of the inning, as Jacob Wielebnicki faced four batters without allowing a hit to post the save and Kenny Long earned the victory after 1 1/3 innings of hitless baseball.
"It was great to see a close game," head coach Mark Kingston said. "Our defense was outstanding, our freshmen pitchers were outstanding and it was great to see Long and Wielebnicki throw really well."
Even though neither freshman starter, Cam Verbeke and Brad Sorkin, were involved in the decision, both held their own on the mound. Sorkin, who started for the Red team, went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits and added four strikeouts. Verbeke lasted 4 2/3 innings for the Black team and struck out three batters, while allowing two runs on three hits.
"Having two freshmen go out and pitch the way they did is very encouraging," Kingston said. "Both are what we want to do this year and for the future. Both have poise and both showed very, very good stuff."
The Black team opened the scoring in the first inning when Wiesemeyer's double to right center plated Tyler McNeely, who had walked earlier in the inning. The Red team tied it up in the bottom of the frame on Ryan Court's sacrifice fly which scored Chad Hinshaw, who had doubled down the left field line to open the inning.
After a scoreless second, the Black team took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when McNeely crossed the plate on a Sorkin wild pitch. The lead was short lived, as Court drove home his second run of the game for the Red team, another sacrifice fly to score Hinshaw.
Wiesemeyer and Zach Amrein each had a pair of hits to lead the Black team, while Hinshaw notched two base hits for the Red.
The second game of the series will take place Wednesday at 4 p.m., on Duffy Bass Field.
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