WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Illinois State baseball team surrendered a six-run lead late but rallied back to win with a walk-off single from Sean Beesley Wednesday as Illinois State took an 8-7 win over Bowling Green at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at Chain O'Lakes Park.
Bowling Green plated six runs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 7-7. The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Daniel Dwyer walked and Paul DeJong singled to start the inning. Jared Hendren bunted the runners into scoring position before Mason Snyder was intentionally walked.
Beesley followed with a chopper to the left side of the infield to score Dwyer and win the game.
"It was a little frustrating losing a 7-1 lead. Steve Heilenbach pitched well and he didn't deserve a no-decision," said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. "But ultimately, it helped being the home team and having Dan and Paul come up with two big at-bats in the ninth allowed Sean to come up with the game-winning RBI."
Illinois State (7-7) jumped out to an early lead for the second day in a row as Snyder hit a three-run home run for the Redbirds in the first inning, following singles from DeJong and Hendren.
Danny Jackson hit a two-run home run in the second inning, in his first at-bat wearing a Redbird uniform, before DeJong added a solo shot for another three-run inning in the second, giving the Redbirds a 6-1 lead.
Illinois State added a single tally in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Logan Leverett before surrendering the lead the following inning.
Heilenbach allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, over 6.1 innings of work in his first start of the season. Jeffrey Barton allowed two runs in relief in the Falcons' six-run sixth, before giving way to Mitch Vogrin, who allowed the tying run to score before pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
Jack Landwehr tossed a scoreless ninth in his first relief appearance of the year to earn the win.
DeJong led the Redbirds' offensive charge with three hits, while Hendren and Snyder added two hits apiece.
The Redbirds are off Thursday before returning to action Friday against Maine at the RussMatt Invitational. First pitch Friday is set for 9 a.m. CT.
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