CONWAY, Ark. - Illinois State (6-3, 0-0 MVC) defeated North Dakota (0-4, 0-0 WAC), 4-0, and fell to Central Arkansas (6-4, 0-0 Southland), 7-0, Saturday night to split a doubleheader at Bear Stadium in Conway, Ark. Sunday's scheduled game between Illinois State and Central Arkansas has been cancelled due to severe winter weather in Arkansas. The Redbirds concluded the three-game weekend series with a 2-1 overall record.
Game 1 Recap
Dylan Craig (2-0) fired six scoreless innings and Sean Beesley matched a career-high with three hits as Illinois State blanked North Dakota 4-0 Saturday afternoon at Bear Stadium. Craig fired a career-best nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits. Brock Stewart worked a pair of scoreless innings with three strikeouts and David Suarez did not allow a run in the ninth inning to secure the win.
Illinois State out-hit North Dakota eight to three and swept the two-game series versus North Dakota.
The Redbirds used three-straight hits to load the bases with no outs in the third inning as Dennis Colon, Jack Czeszewski and Beesley all reached safely to open the frame. Daniel Dwyer, Joe Kelch and Brock Stewart then each collected one RBI to make it 3-0 Illinois State after three innings. Beesley drove home Colon with two outs in the third inning to cap the scoring and give Illinois State a 4-0 advantage.
Craig worked two 1-2-3 innings and at one point retired nine-consecutive North Dakota batters. Jeff Campbell (0-1) was ticketed with the loss and allowed four runs, two earned, in four innings of work.
Stewart tallied three strikeouts and blanked UND in the seventh and eighth innings. Suaraz allowed one walk in the scoreless ninth inning.
Game 2 Recap
Chris Caudle (2-1) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Illinois State was shut out for the first time since Feb. 18, 2012, as the Redbirds fell, 7-0, to Central Arkansas Saturday night in Conway, Ark. JD Learnard (1-1) was handed the loss and allowed six runs, five earned, in 3.1 innings.
Central Arkansas scored two runs in the first inning on Tyler Langley's two-run double to right field. The Bears tallied five more runs off just one hit in the fourth inning. Illinois State pitchers combined to throw three walks, three hit-by pitches, one wild pitch and the Redbird defense committed one error in the frame.
Caudle had a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning before Paul DeJong broke the streak with an infield single. Jack Czeszewski followed with an infield single, but Illinois State left two on base and did not score over the final two frames.
In relief, freshman Ben Hecht fired a career-high five strikeouts over two perfect innings. Jeremy Rhoades struck out the side in the eighth.
Weather permitting, Illinois State will return to action Tuesday, March 4 at SIUE. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
