SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– The Illinois State Redbirds fell in the first game of a three-game series at Missouri State by a 4-2 score to open the conference opener.
Owen Miller led the way for Illinois State as he was the only Redbird to collect multiple hits, as the Redbirds had five for the game. Miller drove home the only runs for the Redbirds as he homered in the first inning scoring John Rave.
Brent Headrick pitched six and one-third innings for the Redbirds as the starter, striking out five, scattering three hits and giving up four runs. Jeff Lindgren closed the game for the Redbirds giving up just one hit and striking out one.
The Redbirds jumped out quickly, as Miller's two-run blast put the Redbirds up 2-0 after the first. Illinois State proceeded to draw three more walks in the inning to load the bases; however, the trio were left stranded as Illinois State took a two-run advantage.
After three innings of scoreless baseball, the hosts scored in the bottom of the fourth inning trimming the deficit in half to 2-1.
The Bears took the lead for the first time, when they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Missouri State scored again in the bottom of the seventh to take the 4-2 lead - the eventual final score.
Illinois State had two runners on in the top of the ninth inning as the tying run was on first base, but could not drive the runners around in the narrow loss.
The two meet back at Hammons Field Saturday for a double header starting at noon to complete the series.
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