HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Despite a two-double outing from Illinois State's Collin Braithwaite, the Redbirds fell 6-1 in the first of a four-game in three-day series with the Hawai'i Warriors on Thursday evening.
Braithwaite went 2-for-3 at the plate for Illinois State, recording half of the team's four hits in the game, along with a two-hit game from John Rave with a single and a double. In all, three of ISU's four hits were doubles in the game.
Illinois State starter Jack Anderson was able to work himself out of trouble in the first inning, drawing a bases-loaded fielder's choice to end the threat, before getting a fly-out, throw-out double play to end the second, and keep the Warriors off of the scoreboard over his two innings of work.
Hawai'i struck first in the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning, while holding the Redbirds without a baserunner through the first three innings of the contest.
Illinois State got its first hit of the game on a two-out double from Braithwaite, but was left stranded in the game.
The Redbirds' next hit proved to be the eventual run-scorer for the visitors, as Rave got a two-out single through the right side. He promptly stole second base, and advanced to third when the throw from the Rainbow catcher could not be corralled. A pitch later Rave scampered home on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit in half at 2-1.
Hawai'i added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, to secure the 6-1 win in the opening game of the series – the first ever meetings between Hawai'i and Illinois State.
The Warriors' Cade Smith picked up the pitching victory, while Illinois State's Jeffrey Barton had the loss for the Redbirds.
The two teams meet back at Les Murkami Stadium on Friday at 11:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. local time) for the second game of the series.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
