NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader with No. 25 Indiana State on Friday at Duffy Bass Field. The Redbirds were edged, 4-2, in game one before falling, 6-1, in game two.
Fifth-year senior Colton Johnson shined in a first-game pitchers' duel, throwing six innings and striking out six batters. Johnson gave up five hits, three unearned runs, one walk.
Runs were hard to come by for Illinois State (11-17 overall, 3-3 Missouri Valley Conference), which scored just one run in the final 15 innings of the doubleheader after a two-run home run by fifth-year senior Jordan Libman in the 1st inning of game one.
Geremy Guerrero fired eight and a third innings for Indiana State (15-7 overall, 2-0 MVC) in game one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
Libman blasted a 428-foot home run to left-center field to put the 'Birds up, 2-0.
The Redbirds stranded two runners in both the third and fourth innings as the Sycamores made stellar defensive plays to keep Illinois State from expanding the lead.
The Illinois State battery had a key cross-up in the 6th inning that advanced runners from 1st and 2nd to 2nd and 3rd. The next pitch was a chopper up the middle that resulted in a Redbird error and ultimately three unearned runs.
A solo shot in the 9th inning by the Sycamores pushed the Indiana State lead to 4-2.
Game Two
Indiana State scored in the 1st inning before Illinois State scored one of their own in the bottom half. Libman singled to left field before Jack Butler scored on an obscure play. Jack Butler appeared to have been out, but the home plate umpire ruled that the Indiana State catcher had blocked the plate without the ball, meaning Jack Butler was ultimately ruled safe.
The Sycamores scored the game's next five runs.
The Redbirds, outside of a pair of doubles by fourth-year junior Nick Gile, were unable to threaten the Sycamores the rest of way as Indiana State won with a 6-1 scoreline.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
- Game one's five errors were the most by the Redbirds since 3/30/2019.
- Libman now has a hit in 24 of 28 games in 2021.
- The Redbirds played on national TV (ESPN) for the first time since 6/4/2019 in the Regional Final against Louisville.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to play No. 25 Indiana State on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. These days and times are subject to change. Attendance is pass list only.
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).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
