NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Illinois State Redbirds defeated the Belmont Bruins by a final score of 10-6 in a Sunday matinee in Nashville. The Redbirds scored double digit runs in each of the three games this weekend to sweep the Bruins.
Redbird Performers
Top Hitters:
- Joe Aeilts: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs
- Ryan Hutchinson: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 Runs
- Tyson Hays: 1-for-1, 3B, 2 RBI, 1 Run
- Derek Parola, Nick Zouras, Jeremy Gaines, and Gunner Peterson each contributed with a RBI in the win. Â
Pitching Breakdown:
- Matt Walker (1-0, starter): 3.0 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K's
- Colton Johnson: 3.0 IP, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's
- Jacob Gilmore: 1.1 IP, 2 hits, 0 Runs, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's
Quote from Coach Holm on Staying Focused and Getting the Win
"I believe Belmont had all the momentum. They scored six unanswered runs. We didn't have much luck in those middle innings either. But once we caught a break we were still in the game mentally and jumped all over it."
Scoring Breakdown:
- The Redbirds scored in the first inning just like the previous two days against the Bruins. Parola got it started for the Redbirds when he doubled to right scoring Rave. Aeilts would single to later score Parola making it 2-0. Hutchinson doubled later in the inning scoring Aeilts and Libman to make it 4-0. Gaines would single up the middle to score Hutchinson to give the Redbirds a 5-0 lead after the top half of the first.
- Aeilts would lead off the top of the third inning, as he blasted a home run to right-center field extending the Redbird lead to 6-0. Zouras grounded out later in the inning when Hutchinson would come home to score pushing the lead to 7-0 in favor of the 'Birds.
- Belmont responded in the bottom of the third with two runs to cut into the Redbird lead. ISU led Belmont 7-2 after three innings.
- The Bruins would score again in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch to make the score 7-3.
- In the bottom of the seventh, the Bruins scored two more runs to cut the Redbird lead in half. ISU led Belmont 7-5.
- Belmont would plate another run in the eighth on a single up the middle to make it a one run game.
- Illinois State provided some insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Hays tripled to bring home two runs to make the score 9-6 over Belmont. Then, Peterson would double to bring home Hays to give the Redbirds the 10-6 victory over Belmont.
 Up Next:
Illinois State will face off against Central Arkansas next weekend in a four game series with a doubleheader scheduled on Saturday. 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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