April 1, 2011
Final Stats
Post-Game Interview
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State matched its season-best 18 runs, as senior Zach Amrein drove home four runs and Corey Maines struck out a career-best 12 batters in an 18-2 non-conference victory over Chicago State to open the four-game series Friday, at Duffy Bass Field.
All 18 Redbird runs were unanswered, as each of the first two Cougar batters crossed the plate in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of ISU fielding errors. With the win, Illinois State improved to 16-7 on the season, while Chicago State fell to 4-13.
Chicago State continued to lead, 2-0, heading into the bottom of the third, but the Redbirds put together a seven-run inning to take control of the game. With the bases loaded, Ryan Court collected his first of two RBI as a result of drawing a bases-loaded base on balls. Amrein followed with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to score Kevin Tokarski and tie the game, 2-2. Tyler McNeely put ISU up for good with a two-run double down the left field line. Josh Colon also belted a two-run double in the inning, while Mike Hollenbeck drove home another ISU run with a single.
The offensive outburst in the third inning proved to be all Maines needed on the hill. The ISU senior faced 22 batters and struck out 12, while only allowing four hits and three walks over five innings. Maines earned his fifth victory of the season without a defeat. Cam Verbeke and Jacob Wielebnicki continued where Maines left off and combined to only allow a single hit over the final four innings. On the day, the ISU pitching staff collected 18 strikeouts.
Following a scoreless fourth, Illinois State scored in each of the next four innings. Hollenbeck drove home McNeely in the fifth with a single for his second RBI of the game and an 8-2 lead. In the sixth, Amrein slugged his fourth home run of the season, this one being a three-run bomb just to the right of the right field scoreboard.
With four more ISU runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and three more in the eighth, the Redbirds finished with 15 hits led by Hollenbeck with three. For the game, 11 separate Redbirds posted at least one base hit, while Brett Kay and McNeely each finished with two apiece.
Illinois State and Chicago State will play a doubleheader at Duffy Bass Field Saturday. The first game is scheduled for seven innings with a noon start, while the second game is slated as a nine-inning contest.
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