April 12, 2009
Final Stats
Redbird Baseblog
NORMAL, Ill. - Don't count Illinois State out. For the second time in three games, the Redbirds won in their last at-bat as Anthony Ruffolo drove in two with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the 10th and lifted ISU to a series-clinching, 6-5, win over Missouri State at Duffy Bass Field Sunday.
The Redbirds used a walk-off hit by Mike Stalowy to hand the Bears (18-14, 6-2 MVC) their first Missouri Valley Conference loss in game one of a doubleheader Saturday, and clinched the series with Sunday's rally. Ruffolo hit a solo home run to tie the contest in the bottom of the seventh inning and answered a single run by Missouri State in the top of the 10th by driving in Tyler McNeely and Stalowy with a single to left.
"I've never been a part of something like this before," Ruffolo said after helping the Redbirds improve to 7-1 in one-run games. "We're trying to change the attitude around here, and we're starting to win close games that in the past we haven't been able to. Everyone is playing together. (Illinois State head coach Jim) Brownlee and (associate head coach Mark) Kingston have done a great job in getting us to believe that we can win. We never feel like we're out of a game, and that's pretty special."
Ruffolo finished the game 2-for-6, one of four Redbirds (16-10, 6-4 MVC) with multiple hit games. Stalowy went 3-for-5 and collected eight total hits in the three game series. McNeely and Ryan Court each had two hits.
Missouri State scored a run in the first and second innings and led 2-1 after five despite getting just one hit off Illinois State starter Corey Maines. Both teams traded runs in the sixth inning before Ruffolo tied it up with a home run to right field and chased Missouri State starter Aaron Meade from the game.
Missouri State scored in the top of the eighth as an intentional and unintentional walk loaded the bases with one out. Chris Playter hit a sacrifice fly to right to put the Bears up 4-3, but Maines induced a pop-up to left before any further damage could be done. Maines left the game after eight innings with four hits surrendered but walked six and hit two batters.
The Redbirds used small ball in the bottom half of the eighth to put Cole Marty in scoring position and with two outs, in a 0-2 hole to Missouri State's Pat Doyle, Stalowy singled to center to score Marty and draw Illinois State even again. Both teams stranded runners in the ninth inning to force extra frames.
Ben Carlson led off the 10th with a solo home run against Redbird closer Jim Sajewich and the Bears got a runner in scoring position before Kenny Long struck out pinch-hitter Zak Swyhart to end the half inning.
Jon Barnes retired Collin Salzenstein to start the bottom of the 10th but unraveled from there. McNeely singled up the middle then Stalowy and Evan Kohli walked to load the bases for Ruffolo. Ruffolo roped the 1-1 offering into left for the walk-off win. Long picked up his first collegiate win in relief.
Illinois State will travel to Northern Illinois Tuesday for a 3 p.m. game before welcoming Purdue for a 6 p.m. tilt Wednesday. Wednesday is Buck Night at Duffy Bass Field with admission and various items at the concession stand costing just $1. The Redbirds resume Valley play with a three-game series at Northern Iowa next weekend (April 17-19).
