March 25, 2009
Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Illinois State's Anthony Ruffolo went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs with his first career home run, but it's the one that could have been that will haunt the Redbirds after a 9-5 loss to Eastern Illinois at Coaches Stadium Wednesday.
Ruffolo knocked in Evan Kohli with a home run to left field in the second inning and narrowly missed a game-tying, three-run home run in the top of the seventh with the Redbirds trailing 8-5. Eastern Illinois' left fielder Curt Restko found the wall and stretched over the top of the fence to rob Ruffolo of his second drive and end a late Redbird rally. Collin Salzenstein had a multi-hit game with two singles for Illinois State (10-7, 2-1 MVC) and was one of four Redbirds to drive in runs.
Eastern Illinois (15-5, 3-0 MVC) jumped on Redbird starter Quinn Ewert early, with Brett Nommensen leading off the game with a solo blast and Jordan Kreke hitting a two-run shot with two outs. Eastern scored three runs on three hits in the first inning and added another two runs in the third.
Illinois State scored three runs of its own in the top of the third, including Ruffolo's home run and an RBI single by Salzenstein to drive in Matt Mirabal.
Ewert pitched two scoreless innings before he was lifted for Matt Werderitch in the fifth. Werderitch was tagged for two runs before throwing a scoreless sixth. Kyle Nelson finished the game for Illinois State, giving up one run in two innings.
Trailing 8-3 in the top of the seventh, the Redbirds tried to mount a comeback and plated two runs before Ruffolo came to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs but his potential game-tying hit was snagged by Restko.
Eastern Illinois hit three home runs in the game, part of a six extra-base hit effort. Zach Borenstein finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Jake Samuels, Jordan Kreke and Restko collected two hits.
Illinois State resumes its Missouri Valley Conference schedule and welcome Indiana State to Duffy Bass Field for a three-game weekend series starting at 4 p.m. Friday.
