March 8, 2009
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS - Illinois State pounded 17 hits, including eight during a 10-run outburst in the fifth inning, and Corey Maines surrendered just two hits in seven innings as the Redbirds rolled to a 13-2 win over Western Michigan at the Metrodome Saturday afternoon.
Tyler McNeely and Collin Salzenstein combined for seven hits at the top of the lineup as Illinois State (4-4) provided plenty of run support for Maines, who struck out five and walked one while earning his second win of the season. McNeely, who finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, reached in all five of his plate appearances and drove in three runs. McNeely also stole three bases.
"I'm just getting my approach down and looking for balls that I can drive and not just strikes," McNeely said. "As a team, we're starting to figure out which pitches we can drive and which pitches we should lay off. Today we showed our capabilities."
Salzenstein finished a home run away from the cycle and finished 4-for-6 with three runs scored. Eric Mahler went 3-for-4 in his first start of the season and scored three runs as well.
McNeely put the Redbirds up 2-0 in the top of the third inning by driving in Salzenstein and Mahler with a single to right field. Western Michigan answered with a run in the bottom half of the third, taking advantage of a leadoff walk - Maines' only free pass of the game.
The Redbirds added a run in the fourth but blew the game wide open with 10 runs in the fifth inning. Mahler led off with a single and was one of five consecutive Redbirds to reach before the first out was recorded. Four of Illinois State's eight hits in the fifth were extra-base hits, including a three-run home run by Ryan Court.
The breakout inning came as a relief to the Redbird hitters, who collected 14 hits in the previous three games combined.
"A lot of guys have been struggling, but hitting balls hard," McNeely said. "They got pitches they could drive today and took advantage of them. Ryan's home run was a great example of a guy sitting back and driving a pitch that was right down the middle. There was an obvious feel in the dugout that is associated with winning."
Maines locked down Western Michigan after the run scored in the third. He retired the last 14 batters he faced in order, part of a string of 18 straight Broncos retired by Redbird pitchers. Jake Wielebnicki was perfect in the eighth inning with two strikeouts and Jim Sajewich closed out the win in the ninth.
Grant Simontes collected two of Western Michigan's five hits. Broncos' starter Derek Mosher struck out six in 4.1 innings but was tagged for 11 hits and nine runs.
Illinois State continues its spring trip by travelling to San Antonio, Texas. The Redbirds will play Texas-San Antonio on Tuesday before beginning play at the Notre Dame Invitational (March 11-4).
