NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Illinois State battled back from a seven-run deficit to tie the game at 10-10 with Belmont in the eighth inning and each team scored a run in the ninth to send it to extra innings tied at 11. After a scoreless 10th inning, the Redbirds scored 16 runs in the top of the 11th inning to win by a final score of 27-11 in the 2019 season opener and debut for head coach Steve Holm.
It's the most runs the Redbirds have scored since 2012, when they scored 28 at Tennessee Tech on February 26, 2012.
Redbird Performers
Top Hitters:
- Joe Butler: 2-for-6, HR, 5 RBI, 4 Runs
- Tyson Hays: 2-for-2, 3B, 5 RBI, 3 Runs
- John Rave: 3-for-7, 4 RBI, 3 Runs
- Ryan Hutchinson: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, 4 Runs
- Joe Aeilts: 1-for-6, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 Runs
- Derek Parola, Jordan Libman, Jeremy Gaines, and Aidan Huggins all had a RBI as well
Pitching Breakdown:
- Brent Headrick (starter): 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
- Jacob Gilmore (W, 1-0): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Quote from Coach Holm On The Comeback and Win In Extra Innings
"Our guys did a great job of letting go of all the negative that went on. Once the momentum started to turn, we hit the gas pedal. We have run every step of Hancock Stadium in the off season. We knew if it came down to an endurance contest, our chances were going to be good."
Scoring Breakdown:
- The Redbirds opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, as Ryan Hutchinson delivered a two-out single to left driving home John Rave and Jordan Libman. Illinois State led Belmont 2-0 after the top of the first inning. Â
- In the top of the fifth inning, Derek Parola came up big with two outs, as he singled up the middle to drive home Joe Butler and extend the ISU lead to 3-0 after the top half of the inning.
- The Bruins would scratch across two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, trimming the ISU lead to 3-2.
- Belmont then scored eight runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 10-3 lead.
- The Redbirds would bounce back in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game, all on one out. Butler was hit by a pitch to score Libman, making it 10-4. Hays was hit by a pitch to bring home another run and keep the bases loaded. Huggins then walked to make it 10-6 and Rave drove home two runs with a single up the middle to make it 10-8. Huggins would score on a wild pitch and finally, Libman would tie the game brining home Rave with a sacrifice fly to left.
- In the top half of the ninth inning, Hays drove home Hutchinson on an infield single to give the Redbirds an 11-10 lead, but the Bruins would score on a wild pitch in the ninth to tie the game at 11 runs apiece sending the game to extra innings.
- The Redbirds would score 16 runs in the top of the 11th inning, as Rave drove home Hays on an RBI single to take the lead. Huggins scored on a wild pitch to make the score 13-11 and Hutchinson was hit by a pitch that scored a run. Gaines and Butler drew back-to-back walks to plate a pair of runs making the score 16-11. Hays followed and tripled to clear the bases and Rave drove Hays home making the score 20-11. Aeilts had a bases-clearing triple to extend the lead to 23-11 and would later score on an error. Butler then hit his first home run of the season, driving home three more runs to make the final score 27-11.
Up Next:
Illinois State will face off against Belmont tomorrow for game two of the series, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. For updates on Illinois State Baseball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (@isuredbirdbaseball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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