SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Dan Savas fired a complete-game with a season-best eight strikeouts, but Missouri State (17-17, 6-4 MVC) rallied for four runs late to defeat Illinois State (22-12, 5-5 MVC), 4-2, Friday afternoon at Hammons Field. The Redbirds tallied just two hits in defeat.
Savas (7-2) worked eight innings allowing four runs, all earned, on seven hits for the loss. Jon Harris (2-3) pitched 5.1 relief innings for the Bears and struck out five batters en route to the win. Sam Perez (2) retired all four batters he faced to secure the save.
The Redbirds opened the third inning with back-to-back walks from Dennis Colon and Brian Rodemoyer. Jack Czeszewski sacrificed both runners into scoring position and Bears starter Cody Schumacher left the game with an injury. With runners in scoring position and one out, Sean Beesley lined a run-scoring single to right field off Harris to give Illinois State a 1-0 advantage. Harris struck out Mike Hollenbeck and retired Daniel Dwyer to close the threat.
Savas retired the side in order through three innings and utilized an 8-2 double play, which featured an outfield assist from Beesley on a play at home plate, to preserve a 1-0 advantage after four innings.
Dwyer drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning and scored on a RBI-triple from Brock Stewart to extend the Redbird lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Tate Matheny opened the frame with a double. Savas then walked Eric Cheray to put two on with no outs. Matt Fultz' RBI-double cut the Redbird lead to one, but the tying run would score one batter latter on a RBI-single by Spencer Johnson. Conner Wilson added a sacrifice-fly to give Missouri State the lead for good, 3-2.
Matheny clubbed a solo home run off Savas in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Game two of the series will begin Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Dylan Craig makes the start for Illinois State.
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