May 8, 2009
Final Stats
PEORIA, Ill. - Quinn Ewert drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single in his only at-bat of the game and Ryan Court provided a needed cushion with a three-run home run in the next at-bat as Illinois State defeated Bradley, 8-5, in 11 innings at O'Brien Field late Friday night.
Ewert, the second pitcher and third player the Redbirds (20-19, 10-10 MVC) used in right field during the game, drove in Collin Salzenstein to break a 4-4 tie with two outs in the top of the 11th and was one of three runs to score on Court's blast to centerfield. Court drove in four runs in the contest and the home run - his fourth of the season - was his first hit of the game.
Illinois State starter Ryan Camp scattered six hits over career-high 8.1 innings before leaving with a 4-2 lead and two runners on in the bottom of the ninth. Redbird reliever Jim Sajewich walked the first batter he faced and surrendered a two-RBI single to Tommy Fitzgerald to tie the game. Sajewich settled down and struck out two of the next three batters to send the game to extra-innings.
Bradley's Jacob Booden retired Illinois State in order in the 10th and Sajewich worked around a pair of singles to send the game to the 11th inning. Cole Marty flew out to start the bottom half but Salzenstein doubled - his fourth hit of the game - and Tyler McNeely singled on a fly ball that dropped right in front of home plate. Mike Stalowy nearly grounded into a double play but a strong slide by McNeely prevented a throw to first. That moved Salzenstein to third and set up the Ewert and Court consecutive hits to make it a 8-4 game.
Bradley (15-28, 2-14 ERA) loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly by Colby Luttrell, but Sajewich wiggled out of the jam to preserve the win.
Illinois State snapped a six-game conference losing streak and seven-game skid overall while moving another win closer to securing a berth in the team's first State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament since 2001. McNeely and Anthony Ruffolo both finished with two hits for Illinois State. Ryan Copeland made his first appearance outside the pitching mound when he played an inning in right field as a defensive replacement in the eighth. Ewert collected his second hit of the season and second RBI in just two games played in the field this season.
Corey Maines (6-3, 4.14 ERA) will start Saturday's contest at 7 p.m. against Joe Bircher (2-2, 3.47 ERA). Ryan Copeland (3-5, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday's game for ISU against Collin Brennan (0-4, 6.99 ERA).
