NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State dropped both ends of a Missouri Valley Conference-opening doubleheader against Southern Illinois on Friday afternoon, falling 6-4 in the opening game, and 7-5 in the evening finale.
In the opener, two Redbirds, Collin Braithwaite and Derek Parola went 2-for-4 at the plate, and eight of Illinois State's nine batters had a hit in the contest. Parola drove in two, while four different players scored the teams' four runs.
ISU starting pitcher Brady Huffman picked up a no-decision, as he went seven innings and scattered five hits, allowing three runs – all three on a three-run home run in the fourth inning – while striking out three batters and walking none.
The Redbirds struck first in the game with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Hutchinson hit a one-out double, and was followed by Parola, who singled to center field, driving home Hutchinson, and giving the hosts a one-run advantage.
Southern Illinois answered with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth, giving the visitors a two-run advantage in the MVC opener.
Illinois State followed with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, starting with a Braithwaite triple to open the inning, before Noah Sadler was hit by a pitch. Joe Aeilts followed with a single to drive in Braithwaite, setting the table for Parola's second RBI, which scored Sadler.
ISU got some two-out magic in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Jordan Libman knocked a two-out double, which was followed by a double by Braithwaite, to push the Redbirds back ahead at 4-3.
The teams traded scoreless innings for the next two frames, before the visitors snuck out two runs in the top of the eighth to take a one-run lead, and added an insurance run in the ninth to go ahead 6-4. The Redbirds threatened in the bottom of the ninth, as John Rave drew a two-out walk, which was followed by a single from Owen Miller, but the rally would not go any further in the two-run loss.
The Illinois State bats were held more in check during the second game, as the team had six hits – all from six different players – while Rave had a team-best two RBI's, and Sadler scored twice.
The second game opened well for Illinois State, as the hosts scored three times in the bottom of the second inning. Parola drove in the game's first run for a second consecutive game, this time chasing in Sadler, before Rave followed with a two-run double that scored Joe Butler and Parola.
The Salukis wasted little time in the wrong end of the score, as the visitors scored four times in the top of the third inning, pushing ahead to a 4-3 lead after two and a half innings in the game. The visitors added three more runs in the top of the fifth to jump ahead 7-3.
In the bottom of the seventh Illinois State fought back with a pair of walks put two runners on base. With two outs, Miller hit an infield single to the second baseman; however, the attempted throw to get Miller out at first was late and out of reach of the first baseman, allowing Sadler to score from second – his second run scored in the game – and cut into the four-run deficit.
The Redbirds cut into the deficit once again with a run in the eighth inning, as Libman opened the inning with a single before Aeilts walked, and Sadler singled to right field to load the bases. Pinch hitter Hutchinson reached on a fielder's choice in which all the runners were save and Libman scored. A strikeout followed, before Rave hit a rocket off the bat that went straight at the second baseman, who was able to turn an inning-ending double play.
After Illinois State retired Southern Illinois in order in the top of the ninth inning, the Redbird bats could not get any momentum in the bottom of the inning, securing the 7-5 Southern Illinois win.
Brent Headrick picked up the loss, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs and striking out seven, while relief pitcher Trevor Cross finished out the game, going 4.2 innings while scattering two hits, and striking out seven.
The two teams return to action on Saturday, March 31, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field.
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