GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Illinois State baseball team led by multiple runs on two occasions, but were topped by No. 7 East Carolina,11-5, on Saturday at Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Illinois State (5-11 overall) led 3-0 after three innings and 5-3 after five and a half innings before ECU pulled away, scoring eight runs from the 6th through 8th innings.
Fourth-year juniors Tyson Hays and Jack Butle rand second-year freshman Ryan Cermak each recorded two hits while fifth-year senior Jordan Libman had a hit, RBI, two runs scored, and a walk.
East Carolina (15-3 overall) got four scoreless relief innings from Garrett Saylor to finish the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Libman knocked in fifth-year senior Aidan Huggins and Cermak plated Libman on a fielder's choice.
A sacrifice fly by Jack Butler in the 3rd inning pushed the ISU lead to 3-0.
After the Pirates tied it up after five innings, the Redbirds responded with two runs in the 6th inning. Third-year sophomoreGunner Petersonsingled to right field to score Jack Butler before Cermak scored on a wild pitch.
ECU scored the game's next eight runs to put the contest out of reach.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Illinois State's 4-5-6 in the lineup (Hays, Jack Butler, Cermak) were a combined 6-for-13 (.462) on the day.
- Huggins' 11-game on-base streak was snapped.
- Libman extended his hitting streak to five games. He now has a hit in 14-of-16 games in 2021 and an RBI in the last three contests.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to face seventh-ranked East Carolina on Sunday with a 10:32 a.m. CT first pitch. The game will be on ESPN+.
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).
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