NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team allowed two runs in the top of the ninth inning and the visiting Evansville Purple Aces scored an 8-6 series-opening win Friday at Duffy Bass Field.
Evansville (14-11, 4-3 MVC) scored both of its ninth-inning runs off ISU reliever Steve Heilenbach with two outs. Illinois State (12-14, 0-4) brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the frame, but could not extend the game.
The Redbirds led by a 6-1 score after three innings, but the Purple Aces slowly chipped away at the lead, tying the game in the seventh inning before taking the lead in the ninth.
Evansville scored one run in the top of the first with an RBI groundout, but Illinois State answered with two in the bottom half thanks to two-out doubles from Mason Snyder and Jared Hendren.
The Redbirds tacked on four more in the third. Joe Kelch singled through the left side to bring home the inning's first run and Ryan Koziol scored on a wild pitch moments later. Jean Ramirez provided the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run single to score Kelch and Hendren.
Evansville started its comeback with one run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth. The Purple Aces tied the game in the seventh when Josh Jyawook led off the inning with a solo home run and Jarod Perry scored on a passed ball.
An RBI single from Eric McKibbon gave the visitors the lead in the top of the ninth and Jonathan Ramon later scored on a wild pitch, both with two outs in the inning.
Heilenbach took the pitching loss after allowing four runs (three earned) over three innings. He walked four and struck out six. Starter Will Headean allowed four runs (three earned) over the first six innings, allowing seven hits and one walk against five strikeouts.
Snyder led the ISU lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double, walk and two runs scored. Paul DeJong and Kelch added two hits each.
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field Saturday for the second game of the Evansville series. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
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