PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team earned a key 6-4 win over Bradley on Thursday at Dozer Field as the Redbirds now trail the Braves by half a game in the Missouri Valley Conference standings in the battle to finish in the top-four of the conference standings and avoid the conference tournament's play-in round.
The Redbirds scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to stave off a three-home run performance by nine-hole hitter Carl Valk, who had just three extra-base hits and no home runs entering the day, for the Braves (18-20 overall, 10-10 MVC).
Fifth-year senior Colton Johnson threw seven innings while striking out 11 innings for Illinois State (22-30 overall, 12-13 MVC).
Fourth-year sophomore Jake McCaw recorded three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Fifth-year senior Jordan Libman added three hits of his own, scoring twice.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bradley hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning to lead 1-0 before a wild pitch plated McCaw in the 4th inning.
Bradley hit another solo shot in the 5th inning to retake the lead, but McCaw doubled in the 6th inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Johnson left a runner stranded on third base after he got there with just one out in the 7th inning.
Fourth-year junior Nick Gile doubled to put ISU up, 3-2, in the 10th inning before a sac bunt by fifth-year junior Aidan Huggins pushed across another run. McCaw singled to add a run and a sac fly by fifth-year junior Jack Butler put the Redbirds up, 6-2.
A two-run homer by Valk made it 6-4 but the Braves were unable to generate another base runner.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
- Valk's three home runs mark the fifth-such performance against the Redbirds since 2000. The most recent was 2/24/2018 against Tennessee Tech when two players hit three home runs. The Redbirds are now 1-3 when an opposing player hits three home runs in a game since 2000.
- McCaw has 36 hits in his last 69 at-bats. He leads the MVC with 41 hits in conference play.
- Libman played in his 200th career game.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to face Bradley at 11:00 a.m. CT on Friday and Saturday. If the 'Birds win both, they will be at least the No. 4 seed in the MVC Tournament.
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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