Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State built an early six-run lead and the Bears needed nearly all of it as Illinois State mounted a late rally that came up just two runs short in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game Friday night at Hammons Field. Missouri State won by an 8-6 count.
Top-seeded Missouri State sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the top of the first inning, chasing Redbird starter Colton Johnson before the end of the frame. The Bears led by six runs heading to the bottom of the ninth, but a late Illinois State rally saw the No. 8 seed Redbird put the potential game-tying run on second base before a groundout ended the game and set up a rematch between the two teams Saturday.
With inclement weather Saturday a possibility, game times have been pushed up by one hour. Illinois State (15-39) will take on Missouri State (40-16) again Saturday in an elimination game at 2 p.m. The winner of the game will play Dallas Baptist (39-19) in the tournament's title game at 6 p.m.
"You walk nine guys in two innings – you just can't do that, not against that team," said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. "It's a hiccup. We played three really good games in a row before this, won three games, and two of them against the Bears. We're 2-2 against them over the last week, so big rubber match with them for all the marbles and a chance to take on the Patriots tomorrow night."
Missouri State rushed out to a 4-0 lead Friday night in the first inning, thanks to two hits and five walks in the frame. Blake Graham drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run. Alex Jefferson singled in a run on the very next pitch and, after a Redbird pitching change, Jack Duffy and Logan Geha were issued free passes to allow two more runs.
The Bears, ranked No. 12 nationally, tacked on two more runs in the second on a Blake Graham RBI single and a bases-loaded walk coaxed by Geha, to boost their lead to 6-0.
Illinois State got on the scoreboard on Nick Zouras' sacrifice fly in the second inning.
Both pitching staffs settled in after that as neither team scored for the next four innings. The Redbirds ended the drought in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out RBI single from Noah Sadler, cutting the Missouri State lead to four at 6-2.
The Bears scratched out a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, as Duffy scored on a wild pitch and later scored on a John Privitera single.
Those runs would prove to be vital, as the majority of the Redbirds' offense came in the bottom of the ninth. Joe Butler reached on an error, advanced to third on another error and scored on a John Rave sacrifice fly. Then, with two outs, Joe Aeilts singled and Ryan Hutchinson walked to set up an RBI single from Owen Miller, which brought the potential game-tying run to the plate in the form of Derek Parola.
Parola singled to left field to plate Hutchinson and Aeilts, and advanced to second on the Bears' third error in the inning. But the game ended on the next pitch as Missouri State reliever Jake Fromson induced a groundout on his first and only pitch of the game.
Butler was Illinois State's only player with multiple hits as the freshman with 2-for-4 with a double. Eight of nine Redbirds in the lineup registered a hit in the game.
Johnson exited Friday's start after recording just one out. He allowed two hits and walked three, leading to four runs. Mitch Weis followed with 1.2 innings of relief work, allowing two runs on six walks. Jack Bellinger righted the ship with three scoreless innings, before giving way to Jeff Lindgren, who turned in two scoreless frames. Michael Sebby pitched a scoreless eighth. Braden Niksich allowed two runs in the ninth.
Saturday's games will be broadcast live as part of The Valley on ESPN3. Links for live video 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.
