CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois State fell 4-2 on Tuesday evening to Illinois in a pitcher's duel which saw 15 hits between the two teams, and just six combined runs.
Champaign native Joe Aeilts went 2-for-4 for the Redbirds, as did Bryce Grimm. Noah Sadler and Aeilts each scored in the game, and the pair were driven in by John Rave and Nick Zouras.
The Illinois State offense flexed its muscles early, and put a runner on third base in each of the first four innings of the game. The first score in the contest came in the second inning when Aeilts struck out swinging but reached first base on a wild pitch, was advanced to second on a single by Joe Butler, and to third following a Grimm infield single. A batter later, Rave hit the first Redbird sacrifice fly of the game, staking the visitors to a 1-0 lead.
Illinois answered quickly with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
The Redbirds fought back with another run in the top of the third inning, as it started with a one-out walk to Noah Sadler, who was advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sadler moved to third when a hit by Derek Parola went off of the bag at third base, putting runners on the corners. A batter later, Zouras hit a towering fly ball to right field that saw Sadler come around to score.
In the fourth the Redbirds loaded the bases with one out; however, Sadler hit a screaming shot off the bat, directly to the Illinois first baseman who turned a double play to end the threat.
After a scoreless full fourth inning and top of the fifth, Illinois struck two more times to jump ahead 4-2.
The teams traded scoreless sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, and the Redbirds were unable to extend the game in the ninth inning in the narrow loss.
Illinois State returns to action on Wednesday, April 11, when the team hosts St. Francis at 3 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
