Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State maintained its unbeaten status in Missouri Valley Conference play as the visiting Bears secured an 8-5 win over host Illinois State Thursday night at Duffy Bass Field.
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The No. 12-ranked Bears improved to 37-14 overall and a perfect 18-0 in league play with only two games remaining in the regular season. The Bears have already claimed the 2017 MVC regular-season title, the best start to a MVC season in league history and the longest winning streak in Valley annals.
The Bears ran out to a five-out lead early Thursday only to see Illinois State get back within a run of the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Missouri State reliever Jake Fromson helped the Bears recover quickly, though, tossing 4.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight batters, as Missouri State's offense tacked on three insurance runs down the stretch.
Noah Sadler went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the ninth inning and Joe Butler provided a three-run double to lead Illinois State's offense. Collin Braithwaite went 2-for-4 for the Redbirds.
Missouri State jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Blake Graham's two-run home run to right field in the top of the second inning. The Bears added two more in the third, when Justin Paulsen singled in Hunter Steinmetz and Graham drew a bases-loaded walk. When Jeremy Eierman drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, it made it a 5-0 lead for the visitors.
Illinois State (12-38, 1-18) got back within striking distance in the bottom of the inning, as Derek Parola, Braithwaite and John Rave started the inning with consecutive singles. Butler then cleared the bases with a double to the left-field gap, and Sadler's double moments later cut the Bears' lead to just one at 5-4.
The Bears slowly rebuilt their lead with an RBI groundout from Paulsen and a sacrifice fly from Eierman in the sixth, and an RBI single from Jake Burger in the eighth.
Sadler's solo homer in the ninth got the Redbirds back within three.
Redbird starter Brady Huffman was charged with five runs on four hits and four walks over 3.1 innings. Mitch Weis allowed two runs over the next two innings before giving way to Jack Landwehr, who gave up one run over 2.2 innings on the mound. Michael Sebby tossed a scoreless ninth inning. Illinois State pitchers combined to strike out a season-high 13 batters, with Huffman and Landwehr fanning four each.
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field Friday for a 2 p.m. game with Missouri State. Links for live video, audio and stats 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.
