Feb. 19, 2010
Box Score
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Kevin Tokarski hit the first pitch of the season off the wall for a triple and Chad Hinshaw drove him in with a single on the second pitch, but Illinois State couldn't maintain the pace in a 15-7, season-opening loss to Austin Peay at Raymond C. Hand Park Friday.
Tokarski, who knocked his first extra-base hit since 2008 and Hinshaw, who reached base in all five plate appearances, helped the Redbirds plate three runs in the first inning but couldn't lift Illinois State (0-1) past the Governors in the opening game of the Riverview Inn Classic. Austin Peay (1-0) scored runs in all but two innings, including four runs in the fourth and seventh innings. The game marked the debut for many Redbirds, including first-year head coach Mark Kingston.
"Obviously we would have like to have played a little better today," Kingston said. "If you look at the bright side, we scored seven runs and had 13 hits. Some of the things we have not been able to work on showed up today. Our pitchers threw off dirt for the first time in about six months and we had a big base running error - something we haven't been able to practice for a long time. This is stuff we'll work on, stuff we'll learn from, and we'll move on from it."
Illinois State starter Ryan Camp showed glimpses of his potential, inducing numerous ground balls and wriggling out of a first inning jam, but also showed the signs of the unfamiliarity on the mound Kingston mentioned with five walks. He was tagged with the loss - along with seven hits and seven runs - in four innings of work. Illinois State freshman Brad Sorkin struck out four in three innings of relief and Cam Verbeke struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning.
The Redbirds touched Austin Peay starter Ricky Marshall for six runs in the first four innings but the Governors moved ahead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Marshall finally held the Redbirds scoreless in the fifth, but it was reliever Eric Davis who closed the door on Illinois State with back-to-back shutout innings in the sixth and seventh while the Governors added eight runs.
Hinshaw's three hits led the Redbirds and tied for the game high. Ryan Court, Zach Amrein and Brett Kay each collected two hits for Illinois State. Kay and Court also scored two runs each.
"I was a little nervous, especially following that big hit by (Kevin Tokarski)," Hinshaw said of his first collegiate at-bat. "Like the coaches have been preaching all off-seaosn, I just wanted to get the ball in play, get the run in, and if felt great."
The Redbirds continue competition at the Riverview Inn Classic Saturday at 11 a.m. when they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Illinois State will get another shot at the Governors in the Redbirds' tournament finale Sunday at noon. .
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