JONESBORO, Ark. - Illinois State (4-2, 0-0 MVC) powered eight runs on 12 hits, but fell short in a 14-8 defeated at Arkansas State (4-4, 0-0 Sun Belt) Sunday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Redbirds won the four-game series after opening the weekend with three straight victories.
Jack Czeszewski powered his first-career home run, and picked up two strikeouts in his first relief appearance, in the defeat. Additionally, four Redbirds made their Illinois State debuts as Matt Lambert, Ben Hecht, Kendall Lindley and Clint Stroud all made relief appearances.
Will Headean (0-1) was handed the loss after allowing seven earned runs in two-plus innings of work. David Owen (2-0) allowed six earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work, winning for the second time in as many weeks.
The Redbirds jumped to an early 3-0 lead off Owen, striking first on a RBI-double from Brock Stewart in the first inning. Czeszewski's two-run blast over the fence in right field in the second inning plated Brian Rodemoyer for an early 3-0 Redbird advantage.
Arkansas State rallied for five runs in the second inning off Headean. Two walks and a single loaded the bases to open the frame, before Lucas Feddersen clubbed a two-run single. Austin Baker added a run on a fielder's choice and Stuart Levy drove home a pair with a double to make it a 5-3 Red Wolves lead after 3.
Headean was chased from the game in the six-run third inning and Matt Burgess powered a grand slam off Lambert to extend the Redbird deficit to 11-3.
Lambert allowed two runs in the fourth inning, before Illinois State struck for three runs in the fifth. Dennis Colon opened the frame with his first-collegiate triple. Following an out, Cody Voelker was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Mike Hollenbeck drove a run-scoring double to score Colon and Kelch followed with a two-run single to make it an 11-6 game.
The Red Wolves added an unearned run off Hecht in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lindley and Stroud combined for two scoreless innings with one strikeout.
Hollenbeck doubled home one run in the eighth inning and took advantage of a pair of Red Wolves errors to add one more run. Czeszewski worked one scoreless inning, adding two strikeouts, in his Illinois State relief debut in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Redbirds committed four errors in the loss and the contest featured a combined seven errors and 27 hits.
Illinois State will return to non-conference action Friday, Feb. 28, with game one of a four-game series at Central Arkansas. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Conway, Ark.
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