TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Jeremy Rhoades fired his first-career complete game and struck out a career-high 12 to guide Illinois State (17-8, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference) to an 11-1 seven-inning, run-rule victory at Indiana State (17-7, 2-4 Missouri Valley Conference) Sunday afternoon. With the victory, Illinois State claimed a series-victory over the Sycamores.
Rhoades (2-2) allowed only an unearned run on three hits with one walk in his third start this spring. Kurt Kudrecki (3-3) was chased from the game after 3.1 innings and suffered the defeat. He allowed nine runs, five of which were earned, on six hits, with three strikeouts and five walks.
Dennis Colon matched a career-high with four RBI for Illinois State. Paul DeJong added three RBI and Mason Snyder tallied two RBI. The Redbirds clubbed seven hits and drew eight walks in the win.
Rhoades retired the first 10 batters he faced before Cody Zimmerman reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth. Rhoades worked five 1-2-3 innings and tallied two strikeouts in six-of-the-seven innings he was on the mound. Additionally, Rhoades struck out at least one batter in each inning.
Illinois State sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the third inning to blow the game open early. Colon and Sean Beesley both drew walks to open the frame. Daniel Dwyer followed with a single to load the bases with no outs. DeJong ripped an 0-1 pitch into the gap in right-center field to clear the bases with a double. DeJong has now reached in 24-consecutive games for the Redbirds. Following an out, Logan Leverett walked to put men on first and second. Jack Czeszewski ripped a ground ball that Zimmerman kicked at third base, allowing DeJong to score. Mason Snyder added a run-scoring single and Colon ripped a two-run triple to cap the seven-run inning.
The Redbirds batted around again the fourth inning. Mike Hollenbeck extended his on-base streak to 25 games with a RBI-double, Snyder drew a bases-loaded walk and Colon added a pair of RBI on a single.
Indiana State scored an unearned run off Rhoades in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Rhoades struck out Connor McClain to end the game.
After 25 games on the road, Illinois State will open the home portion of its 2014 schedule with a non-conference game Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field versus Eastern Illinois. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. and both parking and admission are free.
GoRedbirds.com:Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
