NORMAL, Ill. - Jeremy Rhoades fired the first nine-inning complete-game of his career to secure a 4-3 comeback victory for Illinois State (29-12, 10-5 MVC) over Southern Illinois (21-23, 3-12 MVC) Sunday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. The victory capped a three-game sweep over the Salukis and extended the ISU winning streak to seven games.
Rhoades (5-3) allowed three runs, all earned, on nine hits and added five strikeouts for his second complete-game this season. Aaron Hauge allowed one run on three hits in 6.1 innings for a no-decision. Matt Murphy (0-1) suffered the defeat and allowed three runs on two hits in 0.2 innings.
Illinois State broke a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning. Joe Kelch opened the frame with a single and Sean Beesley tallied a run-scoring single to give ISU a 1-0 lead.
Rhoades coasted early, firing perfect frames in three of the first five innings of the game. SIU got on the board in the top of the sixth inning as a five singles allowed the Salukis to take a 3-1 lead over the Redbirds. Consecutive run-scoring knocks from Jake Welch, Ryan Casillas and Cody Daily gave SIU the advantage. Rhoades induced an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
Hauge was chased from the game with one out in the seventh inning after he walked Dennis Colon. Murphy entered the game and got Brian Rodemoyer to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
Jack Czeszewski opened the ninth inning with a single and Daniel Dwyer drew a walk to put two on. Paul DeJong then slapped a single to right field to score Czeszewski and make it a one run game. Tyler Dray replaced Murphy and Hollenbeck sacrificed both runners into scoring position, before Kelch was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Stewart then lined the next pitch into center field to plate Dwyer and DeJong and give Illinois State the lead for good.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rhoades allowed one base runner but got a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
The Redbirds improved to 11-2 at home this season and will conclude a five-game homestand Tuesday night versus Purdue. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
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