EVANSVILLE, Ind. -Â Illinois State (30-18, 10-8 MVC) jumped ahead to an early 4-0 lead, but a five-run fourth inning swung the game for good as Evansville (33-17, 14-4 MVC) rallied to defeat Illinois State, 12-5, Sunday at Braun Stadium. The loss secured a series-sweep for Evansville.
In his shortest start of the season, Jeremy Rhoades (6-4) was chased from the game in the fourth inning. He finished with three-plus innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits. Rhoades struck out three and walked one. Conor Gilligan (3-0) worked two scoreless innings for the win in relief and Brent Jurceka (2) pitched the final three innings for the save.
Illinois State chased Purple Aces starter Matt Rodgers from the game after two innings. Paul DeJong doubled home a run in the first and Mike Hollenbeck added a run-scoring single to give ISU an early 2-0 advantage. In the second inning, Daniel Dwyer ripped a two-run double to make it 4-0 Illinois State.
The Purple Aces then rallied for nine-straight runs off Rhoades and Will Headean. A five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a run-scoring double from Kyle Pollock, gave Evansville the lead for good.
Illinois State added a run on DeJong's RBI-single in the sixth inning, but Evansville tallied three more runs off Brock Stewart in the eighth inning to seal the game. Â
The Redbirds return home for a three-game Valley series versus Wichita State. The series begins Thursday night at Duffy Bass Field with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.
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