INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State Redbirds pounded out 14 hits – including four from leadoff hitter John Rave; however, the host Butler won in walk-off fashion for its second straight game by a 10-9 final score.
Rave was 4-for-6 at the plate, while Owen Miller went 3-for-5, and scored twice. Noah Sadler, Tyson Hays, and Derek Parola each drove in two runs in the loss.
After a scoreless first inning, Butler struck with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
The Redbirds rallied with a three-run third inning, as Rave and Miller opened the inning with back-to-back singles. After a pop-out, Sadler tripled to left field, and then scored when the throw back into the infield went out of play.
The hosts fought back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, re-claiming a lead at 4-3.
Two consecutive innings of scoreless baseball followed, before the Redbirds sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring six runs on six hits and a pair of walks. Miller and Collin Braithwaite opened the inning with singles, before Sadler drew a walk to load the bases. Hays followed with a two-run single to score Miller and Braithwaite.
After a fielder's choice cut down Sadler at third base, before the team got back-to-back doubles from pinch hitter Jack Butler and Parola two drive in a combined three more. Two batters later Rave singled home Parola for the team's final run of the contest, and a 9-4 Illinois State lead.
Butler closed the gap to three runs with a two-run seventh, before scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth inning, ending the three-hour and 55-minute contest between the two programs.
Brent Headrick picked up the start for the Redbirds, pitching 3.2 innings in the contest, striking out four and giving up two earned runs. Relief pitcher Trevor Cross was stellar for Illinois State, pitching two complete innings and striking out four.
The two teams return to action against each other on Sunday, April 29, when the teams take the field at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois.
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