PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Will Headean struck out a season-high 12 batters, and Mason Snyder and Ryan Koziol drove in two runs apiece, as the Illinois State baseball team scored a 7-2 win over St. Joseph's Friday at the Snowbird Classic.
Headean came within one strikeout of matching his career high of 13, while leading the Redbirds to a win in their first of eight games in Florida over the next 10 days. Headean allowed just two hits, five walks and hit two batters over six strong innings, allowing just two runs, only one of which was earned.
"Will showed what he is capable of today in terms of a high strikeout total in six innings," said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. "As we get into Missouri Valley Conference play in a couple weeks, he's going to have to get those walks and hit by pitches down, but when he's pounding the knees with that fastball and controlling the running game with his good pickoff move, he's going to be very tough to score on."
Illinois State (5-5) scratched out single tallied in the first three innings to take the lead. Snyder plated Sean Beesley with an RBI groundout in the first to open the scoring. Joe Kelch scored on a wild pitch in the second and scored Ryan Koziol with a double in the third, to stake Illinois State to an early lead.
The Redbirds added a run in the sixth with an RBI double from Dennis Colon, before scoring three insurance runs in the eighth. Snyder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the first run of the eighth inning before a Koziol double brought in two more.
After Headean turned in a quality start, he was relieved by Jake Sale, who finished the game with three scoreless innings to earn his second save of the season.
The Redbirds return to action Saturday with a game against Georgetown at the Snowbird Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. CT.
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