CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds scored 13 runs – the 10th time this season in which ISU has scored double-digit runs – but could not overcome a nine-run bottom of the first inning in a 17-13 loss at Eastern Illinois on Wednesday.
Noah Sadler and Nick Zouras each had two hits, while Zouras scored three times in the game. John Rave drove in three runs, while Joe Butler and Joe Aeilts drove in two runs.
On a windy day that was blowing strong out to left center field, the teams combined for the 30 runs, 27 hits, and 10 home runs.
After the Redbirds were retired in the top of the first inning, the Panthers erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a trio of home runs.
Illinois State reached the scoreboard for the first time in the second inning when Tyson Hays clubbed a solo home run, his second in the last three games. The Panthers countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second to re-capture the nine-run deficit.
In the top of the third inning the Redbirds scored three times, the first when Owen Miller doubled home Zouras, before Jordan Libman grounded out to the second baseman, allowing Aeilts to score. With Sadler at the plate, Miller crossed the plate on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to six runs at 10-4.
After Eastern Illinois tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Redbirds got the two runs quickly back on an Aeilts two-run home run that scored himself and Zouras. Two outs later Libman walked, and was driven home on a double off the bat of Sadler, dropping the Redbird disadvantage 12-7.
Two runs in the top of the sixth inning, both off of a pinch-hit home run from Butler that also drove in Hays. Once the margin reached three runs, EIU scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to readjust the margin back to 14-9.
The eighth inning saw Butler walk and Zouras single, which was followed by Rave's sixth home run of the season and his 34th RBI of the season, which dropped the Panther lead to 14-12. A three-run home run in the bottom half of the inning increased the margin to five runs at 17-12.
Trailing by five, the Redbirds threatened in the top of the ninth inning, as Collin Braithwaite and Sadler each drew a walk, before Hays was hit by a pitch after the first out of the frame to load the bases. On a strikeout by Butler, pinch runner Bryce Grimm scored on a wild pitch. Zouras walked to re-load the bases, until a strikeout ended the threat and the game.
Jack Spicer picked up the loss for the Redbirds, falling to 1-1 on the season, as Illinois State used seven different pitchers in the game.
Illinois State returns to action on Friday, April 20, when the team travels to Springfield, Missouri, to take on the Missouri State bears in a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series.
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