Feb. 18, 2011
Box Score
Post-Game Interview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Ryan Court went 2-for-2 on two doubles with two RBI and one run scored to help Illinois State win its season-opener against Belmont, 9-4, Friday night at Shelby Park in Nashville, Tenn. ISU hit two home runs in the game before it was called after the seventh inning because of rain.
"I thought we came out and really swung the bats well," said ISU head coach Mark Kingston. "We want power to continue to be a part of our game, because we have guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark, and so, we want to maintain a balance between speed and power."
Starting pitcher Corey Maines pitched four innings for the Redbirds (1-0), allowing three runs, four walks, and striking out two. Cam Verbeke threw two innings, giving up one run, and Justin Hauer pitched one scoreless inning of relief. Belmont (0-1) starter Nate Woods gave up five runs on five hits, while Garrett Fanchier tossed four innings, allowing four runs.
The Redbirds got off to an early 5-0 lead, thanks to a four-run first inning. After Matt Mirabal drove in Kevin Tokarski on a ground-out to the shortstop for ISU's first run, Court drove in Chad Hinshaw on a stand-up double. Newcomer Eric Aguilera highlighted the opening frame with a two-run homer in his first at-bat as a Redbird. Tyler McNeely added onto ISU's lead with a solo home run in the second inning, his 11th career long-ball.
After Belmont scored one run in the second inning and two in the third, ISU responded in the fifth as Court hit another double, this time driving in Zach Amrein. The Redbirds added to their total in the sixth inning on three unearned runs. The game was officially called in the top of the eighth inning because of rain, erasing a two-run homer hit by Amrein in the top of the eighth.
The Redbirds play the second and third games of the four-game series, Saturday, with a double-header beginning at 11:00 a.m.
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