LAKE CHARLES, La. – Jean Ramirez hit a game-tying three-run home run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and Logan Leverett hit a two-out, tie-breaking grand slam in the top of the ninth as the Illinois State baseball team rallied for a 7-3 win over Southeast Missouri State Friday night at McNeese State's Cowboy Diamond.
The late home runs lifted the Redbirds, who were held scoreless over the first seven innings. Ryan Koziol pitched three scoreless innings of relief to finish out the game and earn the first win of his Illinois State career.
With the Redbirds trailing by three runs in the top of the eighth inning, Paul DeJong reached on a single and Mason Snyder walked. Ramirez tied the game with his home run over the left-field fence.
Dennis Colon and Sean Beesley reached on back-to-back one-out singles in the ninth before Daniel Dwyer drew a walk to load the bases. DeJong struck out for the inning's second out, but Leverett gave the Redbirds their first lead of the game with his towering home run to left.
Illinois State starter Will Headean surrendered just one over the first four innings after allowing three hits and five walks, while striking out seven. He was relieved by Steve Heilenbach, who allowed two runs in the sixth inning, and struck out four over two innings of work. Koziol took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, and allowed just two hits and one walk against a pair of strikeouts.
DeJong and Colon reached base three times each, as each player tallied two singles and a walk. Beesley also recorded two hits.
The weekend series was moved from SEMO's campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to McNeese State's field in Lake Charles, Louisiana, due to expected low temperatures and precipitation in Cape Girardeau.
The Redbirds (2-2) return to action against the Redhawks (3-2) on Saturday, with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Jack Landwehr and Jacob Hendren are expected to be the Redbird starters in the twin bill.
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