NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Illinois State's offense helped the Redbirds to another victory over the Belmont Bruins Saturday afternoon by a final score of 14-3. The Redbirds scored multiple runs in four different innings while scoring in the first three frames to give them an early lead in the victory.
Redbird Performers
Top Hitters:
- Ryan Hutchinson: 2-for-6, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
- John Rave: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 Run
- Joe Butler: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 Runs
- Derek Parola: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 Run
- Jordan Libman, Jeremy Gaines, and Aidan Huggins each had a RBI and two runs scored in the win. Â
Pitching Breakdown:
Quote from Coach Holm on the Offense So Far This Season
"Our team speed has come into play. It has forced them to play the game quicker than they are comfortable doing. It's afforded us better pitches to hit as well as a few extra outs per day."
Scoring Breakdown:
- The Redbirds would strike first in the opening frame for the second straight day, as Hutchinson would triple to right field bringing home two runs. Hutchinson would end up scoring on a wild pitch to give the Birds a 3-0 lead in the first.
- Rave singled in the second inning driving home Gaines to extend the lead to 4-0.
- ISU would score three more runs in the top of the third inning, as  it was Hutchinson again bringing home Libman to make the score 5-0. Next, Butler singled to score Joe Aielts and Hutchinson would come around the bases to eventually score on an error by the catcher making the score 7-0 after three innings.
- Belmont got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, when a couple of singles plated three runs for the Bruins ... ISU led Belmont 7-3 after six innings.
- The Redbirds would bounce back in the top of the seventh inning, as Butler singled to right. After a steal and a wild pitch advanced him to third, Butler would score on a balk increasing the lead for ISU. Rave later doubled in the inning scoring, Huggins making it 9-3 in favor of the 'Birds.
- Illinois State would score five more runs in the top of the seventh, as Gaines singled to score Hays. Butler would come home to score on a wild pitch making the score 11-3. Huggins would later single scoring Gaines. Parola reached on an error that put him on second scoring Huggins. Then, Libman grounded out to first to score Rave, pushing the lead to 14-3.
Up Next:
Illinois State will face off against Belmont tomorrow for game three of the series looking for the sweep, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. For updates on Illinois State Baseball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (@isuredbirdbaseball).
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