PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team was edged by Bradley, 4-3, on Friday at Dozer Field as the Redbirds will now need to win Saturday and have Dallas Baptist sweep Southern Illinois to finish in the top-four of the Missouri Valley Conference standings and avoid the conference tournament's play-in round.
Illinois State drops to 22-31 overall and 12-14 in the MVC while Bradley improves to 19-20 overall and 11-10 in the MVC, clinching a top-four seed.
Fourth-year junior Colin Wyman threw three scoreless innings as eight different Redbirds recorded exactly one hit, led by a home run by fifth-year junior Aidan Huggins.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bradley hit a two-run home run in the 2nd inning to lead 2-0 before Huggins hit a solo shot in the 4th inning to cut the deficit in half.
A triple by fourth-year junior Kyle Soberano set up an RBI infield single by fifth-year senior Jordan Libman to tie the game at 2-2.
Bradley responded with two runs in the 5th inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Wyman inherited a runner in the 6th but kept the Braves off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
After a double by fifth-year junior Jack Butler in the 9th inning, fifth-year senior Joe Butler doubled him home after a 10-pitch at-bat. The Redbirds were unable to tie the game as Joe Butler was left stranded on second base.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Redbirds had eight hits by eight different players. ISU had five extra-base hits.
- Illinois State limited Bradley to just six hits. The 'Birds are now 15-10 when out-hitting their opponent.
- ISU faced a left-handed starting pitcher for the first time in 21 games. The team faced 16-of-32 left-handed starters to begin 2021.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to face Bradley at 11:00 a.m. CT on Saturday. The team will need a win and Dallas Baptist to complete the series sweep of Southern Illinois in order to reach the top-four of the conference standings.
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