Oct. 22, 2010
Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format 
Game 3 Box Score in PDF Format
Listen to a Recap of Games 2 and 3 with Mark Kingston
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Black team used the deadly combination of timely hitting and solid pitching to sweep Friday's doubleheader at Duffy Bass Field which resulted in winning the Illinois State fall baseball series.
"We said we would treat this like a super regional and the Black team basically lost that first game, but like you see a lot of times in a super regional game, the team that loses that first game can come back and win the series," head coach Mark Kingston said. "It was good to see the Black team respond like we would want them to respond. They put (Thursday) behind them and they played very well offensively, defensively and they pitched very, very well."
Game 1 - Newcomers highlighted the Black team's 3-1 win to even up the Fall World Series at one game apiece. Junior college transfer Eric Aguilera led the way with one RBI, one hit and one run, while freshman Dan Savas pitched five scoreless innings. Aguilera scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fifth inning after stealing home on a botched pickoff attempt by Red's Brad Sorkin. As a result, Josh Colon stole second base and Aguilera broke for home safely.
In the bottom of the seventh, Colon drove home the next Black run with an RBI single to left scoring Brock Stewart from second base. Black pushed the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth after Ryan Court scored an unearned run on Augilera's groundout to second base. Court had reached safely on a bunt single, but advanced to scoring position on a throwing error by Jake Ingold.
"We are very happy with the improvement of our returning players," Kingston said. "A lot of players who were key contributors last year have gotten a lot better this year and you combine that with the newcomers, it gives us a lot of optimism where we are right now."
Black's Kenny Long recorded the save, but allowed an unearned run in the top of the ninth when David Fallon singled Zach Amrein home for Red's only run. Savas posted the win for Black, after pitching five strong innings. He allowed only three hits and walked one, while striking out six.
Game 2 - Veterans were the key to Black's 10-0 win in the night cap, as Chad Hinshaw and Matt Mirabal combined for three hits, four runs scored and six runs batted in, while J.D. Learnard earned the win with four scoreless innings of work.
In a scoreless game, Black busted it wide open in the top of the sixth inning with a seven-run scoring effort. Freshman Joe Claver took the hill for the Red team and opened the inning with a base on balls for Aguilera. Stewart drove home his fellow newcomer with a double. Claver walked both Mark Menaker and Colon, but then allowed another run after hitting Hinshaw with a pitch. Already leading 2-0, Mirabal opened the flood gates with a bases-loaded clearing double down the left field line. Both Aguilera and Stewart each added another RBI apiece to finish the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh, Black plated three more runs highlighted by Hinshaw's two-run, inside-the-park home run. Hinshaw placed the ball down the right field past the diving Corey Maines scoring Menaker. Court drove home the game's final run with a double, driving home Mirabal.
"Chad Hinshaw has gotten a lot better from last year and Matt Mirabal continues to improve," Kingston said. "I feel really good about our position players, but that being said I thought our pitching was excellent (Friday). Coach (Billy) Mohl has done an excellent job with our pitchers and when it is all said and done (this game) is all about pitching and defense."
Leanard struck out four, without walking a single batter, and allowed three hits over four innings of work. Justin Hauer also added two scoreless innings of work, while Long opened the game with a scoreless inning.
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