NORMAL, Ill. – Ryan Hutchinson was the hero as he pushed across the game winning run for the Illinois State Redbirds in the bottom of the 11th inning as Jordan Libman scored to close out the series against Dallas Baptist.
The game-winning run was set up by a one-out walk to Libman, and a single by Nick Zouras moved Libman to third, setting up the game-winning effort.
Parola finished the game for the Redbirds with one hit and two RBI's. Collin Braithwaite went 3-5 with the only extra base hit for the Redbirds with a double in the eighth inning. John Rave went 2-for-5 for ISU with a run scored, as all four runs scored came from four different batters.
The Redbirds struck first in the game for the third game in the three-game series, as the Redbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead after one inning. Derek Parola got things moving for the Redbirds as he drove in Rave with a single to right field, putting the hosts ahead after one inning.
Dallas Baptist answered in the top half of the 2nd inning as the Patriots tied the game with a single run.
It wasn't until the bottom of the 6th inning when the Redbirds would scratch across another run as Noah Sadler crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Parola picked up his second RBI of the game as he drove home Braithwaite on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning, staking the Redbirds to a 3-1 lead.
The Patriots did not go away quietly, as the visitors were down to the final strike of the game, and got a two-run single to tie the game in the top of the 9th inning.
Neither team could cross the plate in the 10th inning, nor could Dallas Baptist score in their at-bat in the top of the 11th, setting up Hutchinson's heroics.
Illinois State starter, Matt Walker went six innings and gave up just three hits and one unearned run. Walker struck out five Patriots while walking two. Connor Peplow picked up his first win on the season for Illinois State as he pitched in the top of the 11th inning giving up one hit and no runs. Trevor Cross, Braden Niksich, and Jack Bellinger added relief for the Redbirds out of the bullpen.
The Redbirds return to action on Tuesday, April 10th as the squad travels to play against the University of Illinois, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. in Champaign. ISU returns to Duffy Bass Field on Wednesday, April 11 when the team plays host to St. Francis (Ill.) in a 3 p.m. start.
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