DeKALB, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds scored three times in the top of the seventh inning, and held Northern Illinois scoreless in the bottom half of the inning as the game was stopped after the frame because of an impending storm. The 7-6 Illinois State win ran the Redbirds' win streak to three games heading into the three-game series against the Bradley Braves as Duffy Bass Field.
Owen Miller went 3-for-4 from the plate, extending his hit streak to 17 games, and is his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. He scored once and drove in a season-high four runs. John Rave scored twice, while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Jeff Lindgren picked up the win for the Redbirds, pitching two innings of scoreless relief, while Braden Niksich picked up his first save, pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
Illinois State struck first in the top of the second inning when Jordan Libman hit a one-out single, before Rave hit an infield single with two outs on the board. Tyson Hays walked to load the bases, before Miller singled home Libman and Rave to put the Redbirds ahead 2-0.
The hosts struck with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, before the Redbirds re-took the lead a half-inning later.
Illinois State once again used some two-out magic in the top of the fourth when Rave hit a two-out single, and was driven home when Hayes doubled down the left field line. A batter later, Miller singled to left field, scoring Hays and putting the Redbirds ahead 4-3.
Northern Illinois ran off three runs in the bottom of the fourth to re-take its lead at 6-4.
Miller opened the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run, his fourth of the season, cutting the gap to 6-5. Jack Butler and Joe Aeilts had back-to-back one-out singles, before Jake McCaw reached on an error that saw Butler come around to score the tying run. A batter later, Libman hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Aeilts for the eventual game-winning run.
The Huskies drew two walks to open the bottom of the seventh inning, but a double play and a fly-out ended the hopes of a run.
At the conclusion of the inning, the two head coaches met at home plate with the umpires, and due to the impending storm coming into the area, the game was called after seven innings.
The Redbirds return to the diamond on Friday, May 4, when the Redbirds will host MVC rival Bradley in the first of a three-game series, which starts at 6 p.m.
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