NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team lost to No. 11 Illinois before a Duffy Bass Field-record 1,977 fans Tuesday in a non-conference contest. Illinois won, 7-3.
Illinois State (17-16) took the game's first lead in the fourth inning, and later reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning, but were doomed by the Illini's four-run eighth inning.
The loss spoiled a strong outing by Redbird starter Steve Heilenbach, who allowed just two runs over seven innings. Heilenbach scattered six hits and did not allow a walk. He struck out four.
Tuesday's attendance figure smashed the old record of 977, set in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game with Bradley in 2013. Tuesday was the Redbirds' annual "Stuff the Duff" game.
Illinois State scored the game's first run Tuesday when Jared Hendren hit a bases-loaded single to score Paul DeJong in the fourth. Illinois (30-6-1) got out of the jam, however, stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
The visitors took the lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs, thanks to a run-scoring groundout from Matthew James and an RBI single from Ryne Roper.
Illinois State got those runs back in the bottom half of the inning when DeJong delivered a bases-loaded single to score Daniel Dwyer and Caleb Ratzman. The Illini got out of the jam again, however, with an inning-ending double play.
Illinois took control of the game with four runs in the eighth off ISU reliever Jack Czeszewski. Casey Fletcher provided an RBI groundout before pinch hitter Will Krug added a two-run single. David Kerian later scored on a wild pitch.
The Illini added another run in the ninth an RBI single from Reid Roper.
Czeszewski was charged with three hits, one walk and four earned runs. The Illini scored their single tally in the ninth off ISU reliever Ryan Koziol.
Joe Kelch led the Redbird offense with three hits Tuesday. Hendren had hits and a walk.
The Redbirds are back on the road this weekend, with a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Southern Illinois beginning Friday.
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