DALLAS, Texas – Second-year freshman Ryan Cermak blasted a pair of home runs as the Illinois State baseball team fell, 18-7, at Dallas Baptist on Friday at Horner Ballpark, in a game that featured 10 extra-base hits in the first three innings.
Illinois State (18-26 overall, 8-9 Missouri Valley Conference) also got three hits by fourth-year sophomore Jake McCaw and a home run from fourth-year junior Kyle Soberano.
Dallas Baptist (26-11 overall, 11-2 MVC) scored 12 runs in the first three innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Patriots scored five runs in the 1st inning before Cermak and Soberano homered to lead off the 2nd and 3rd innings, respectively.
A McCaw single and DBU error made in 6-4 after two and a half innings.
Dallas Baptist hit a trio of two-out, two-run home runs in the bottom of the 3rd to stretch its lead to 12-4.
Cermak hit his second home run to get the 'Birds to within 12-6 but the Patriots plated the game's next six runs to clinch the contest in a run-rule fashion.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Cermak is just the third Redbird freshman to hit two home runs in a game since 2000 (current third-year sophomore Gunner Peterson and Owen Miller)
- The Redbirds' 18 runs allowed are the most they given up in 2021
- McCaw has 24 hits in his last 41 at-bats.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to play a Saturday doubleheader at Dallas Baptist before wrapping up the series on Sunday.
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