Birds Edged by No. 25 Indiana State in 10 Innings

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team ended up falling in 10 innings, 8-7, against No. 25 Indiana State after holding a 6-0 advantage through six frames on Sunday at Duffy Bass Field. 

Third-year freshman Sean Sinisko dominated the first six innings and finished with 7.2 innings pitched, allowing seven hits, one walk, and three earned runs. Sinisko struck out six.

Second-year freshman Ryan Cermak had a double and triple to go with an RBI to lead the Illinois State (12-18 overall, 4-4 MVC) offensive attack.

Fifth-year junior Aidan Huggins had three hits and fourth-year sophomore Jake McCaw had a two-RBI double.

Indiana State (16-8 overall, 3-1 MVC) recorded 13 hits on the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

A fifth-year senior Jordan Libman single, McCaw double, and Cermak triple yielded four runs for the 'Birds in the bottom of the 1st.

In the 4th, fourth-year junior Nick Gile doubled before a sacrifice bunt by first-year freshman Luke Cheng pushed him to third. A Huggins bloop single scored Gile.

A Hays triple put the Redbirds up, 6-0, in the 6th inning.

The Sycamores recorded eight extra-base hits between the 7th and 9th innings to tie the game at 6-6.

Indiana State scored twice in the 10th inning to lead 8-6.

Third-year sophomore Gunner Peterson recorded a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to put runners at first and third with one out. The 'Birds grounded into a game-ending double play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• The 14 combined extra-base hits were the most since 4/6/2019 against Valparaiso. The total is also the most against a ranked team this century.
• A pair of on-base streaks were extended: Cermak extended his to 21 games and Libman's moved to 19 games.
• The Redbirds' starting nine all recorded a hit—the first such instance since 3/13/2019 against SIUE.

UP NEXT
Illinois State will travel to Milwaukee for a four-game non-conference series from April 16-18.

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