NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State dropped two straight games on Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and was eliminated from title contention. Illinois State fell to Dallas Baptist 9-7 in game one, and then had a quick turnaround and fell to Indiana State, 10-6. The Redbirds finish the regular season with a 34-24 overall record.
Redbird Performers Game 1
Top Hitters
Pitching Breakdown:
- Jeff Lindgren (Starter): 7.0 IP, 7 Hits, 6 Runs, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's
- Mitch Vogrin (L, 2-1): 0.0 IP, 2 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 ER
- Jacob Gilmore: 1.0 IP, 2 Hits, 1 Run, 1 ER
Scoring Breakdown:
- Illinois State struck first in the top of the third inning on an Aeilts single to right field that brought home Parola to make the score, 1-0. Joe Butler was next up and blasted a three-run home run to left field to give ISU and early 4-0 lead. Dallas Baptist brought home a run in the home half of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 4-1 after three innings.
- The Patriots then scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at four runs apiece.
- In the top of the fifth inning, Peterson reached on a fielder's choice that drove home Libman to regain the lead for Illinois State at 5-4. Zouras then singled to right field to bring home Aeilts to make the score, 6-4.
- Parola hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to extend the Redbirds' lead to 7-4.
- Dallas Baptist exploded for five runs in the home half of the eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead. Carraway would pick up his fourth save of the season, as he retired the Redbirds in order in the top of the ninth inning to close out the game.
Redbird Performers Game 2
Top Hitters
- John Rave: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 1 Run
- Joe Aeilts: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 Run
- Aidan Huggins: 2-for-4, RBI, 1 Run
- Gunner Peterson: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, 1 Run
Pitching Breakdown:
- Brett Wicklund (Starter, L, 4-4): 4.0 IP, 5 Hits, 4 Runs, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's
- Jackson Bronke: 1.0 IP, 2 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 1 BB
- Jack Anderson: 0.1 IP, 5 Hits, 4 Runs, 4 ER
- Rhett Rapshus: 0.2 IP, 0 Hits, 2 K's
- Dalton Harvey: 2.0 IP, 0 Hits, 2 K's
Scoring Breakdown:
- Indiana State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a single to center field and a ground ball double play plated one as well. The Sycamores led the Redbirds, 2-0, after one inning.
- Indiana State scored a run in the bottom of the second inning on a single to left-center field to go up, 3-0.
- A sacrifice fly drove home another run for the Sycamores in the third, as Indiana State led Illinois State, 4-0.
- Indiana State scored two runs on two hits in the inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly and a single in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 6-0.
- Rave put the Redbirds on the scoreboard in the top half of the sixth inning on a two-run home run to left field that scored Huggins to make the score, 6-2.
- Ayers hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning for Indiana State to extend its lead, 10-2.
- Peterson doubled to left field to drive home Joe Butler in the top of the seventh inning. Huggins later singled to right-center field to drive home Peterson to trim the deficit to 10-4.
- Aeilts hit a no-doubt two run home run in the top of the eighth inning to trim the lead to 10-6, but that would be as close as the Redbirds would get.
Quote from Coach Holm on the quick turnaround after losing to DBU
"Obviously it was tough because of the emotions that went on throughout that game. We have played a ton of doubleheaders this season. We beat Vanderbilt in the second game of a doubleheader, so I told our guys we're prepared for this."
Up Next:
The Redbirds wait to find out if they have earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament, when the selection show airs Monday at 11 a.m. on ESPNU. 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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