Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team committed three errors in a closely-contested Missouri Valley Conference game as the Redbirds fell to the Salukis, 3-2, in the opening game of a three-game series at Itchy Jones Stadium.
A three-base error charged to Illinois State's right fielder put the go-ahead run on third base with no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the next batter delivered the game-winner as the hosts took the series opener. Two of Southern Illinois' three runs were of the unearned variety.
Joe Butler went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to lead the Redbird offense. Illinois State starter Brady Huffman was solid for five innings, allowing just four hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out four and walked none.
Southern Illinois (24-26, 7-9 MVC) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Jake Hand provided a two-out RBI single to left field to score Greg Lambert, who doubled to set the table. The Salukis added another in the third when Connor Kopach stole third base and trotted home on a throwing error on the play.
Illinois State (12-35, 1-15) scored its first run in the sixth when Collin Braithwaite provided a two-out single to plate Owen Miller, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games in Friday's loss. The Redbirds tied it up in the seventh when Derek Parola and Butler strung together back-to-back doubles.
Southern Illinois took the lead, however, in the bottom of the eighth. A three-base error charged to right fielder Noah Sadler put the go-ahead run on third base in the form of Ryan Smith, and he scored just moments later on a double from Lambert. Hand followed with a single through the right side of the infield, but Sadler cut down Lambert at home to limit the damage.
After the first two Redbirds struck out to start the ninth, Parola walked and Butler singled with two outs. But Southern Illinois closer Ryan Netemeyer nailed down his 15th save of the season by striking out the next batter.
Mitch Vogrin pitched 1.2 scoreless relief innings for Illinois State following Huffman's five-inning start. Jack Landwehr was saddled with the loss after allowing the Salukis' unearned run in the eighth.
The Redbirds return to Itchy Jones Stadium for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. Links for live stats and audio are available at GoRedbirds.com, and fans can follow @RedbirdBaseball on Twitter for live updates and more.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
