NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State team provided 19th-ranked and previously unbeaten Purdue its first loss of the 2022 campaign in a wild 11-inning game at Duffy Bass Field on Thursday evening as the 'Birds came on top with a 4-3 win with first-year freshman JT Sokolove coming home on a wild pitch to walk it off.
Purdue was the last remaining undefeated team in the country.
Fourth-year junior Derek Salata took a no-hit bid into the 7th-inning, but Purdue rallied with a pair of 9th-inning runs to force extra innings. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch plated Sokolove.
Fifth-year junior Jake McCaw had a pair of RBIs to lead ISU (7-6) as the pitching staff limited Purdue (15-1) to just three hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 3rd inning, sixth-year senior Kyle Soberano singled to plate first-year freshman MacCallan Conklin before McCaw doubled to score Soberano.
Salata conceded his first hit in the 7th inning as the 'Birds eventually allowed their first unearned run of the season, lead 2-1 after the top of the 7th.
A McCaw sac fly to score second-year freshman Tyler Woltman pushed the Redbird lead back out to two runs at 3-1.
Fifth-year junior Jared Hart struck out the side in the 8th inning.
Purdue rallied to plate two runs in the 9th inning to force extra innings.
Things looked dire for ISU in the top of the 11th, but third-year Cameron Mabee was inserted and escaped a no-out, runners on first and second base situation keep the score even.
After second-year sophomore Luke Cheng reached on a single, Sokolove was eventually inserted to pinch-run and scored on a wild pitch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Second extra inning game of the season for ISU (16 innings vs Murray State on 3/10)
- ISU allowed its first unearned run of 2022 (was the only remaining team to have not allowed an unearned run)
- Illinois State also won a walk-off in 2021's season opener (Jack Butler RBI single vs Western Illinois on 3/9)
- First-year freshman MacCallan Conklin and third-year sophomore Matt Darr made their first career starts as Redbirds. Conklin recorded his first career hit.
QUOTES
Fourth-year head coach Steve Holm
-on the game: "We used just about everybody on our roster. [Kolton] Scherbenske picked us up in the 9th to keep it tied ... [Cameron] Mabee came in and helped Scherbenske back out. We passed the baton pretty well."
-on the game: "We used just about everybody on our roster. [Kolton] Scherbenske picked us up in the 9th to keep it tied ... [Cameron] Mabee came in and helped Scherbenske bac
Fourth-year junior Derek Salata
-on the atmosphere: "Our crowd was amazing. I think our dugout was amazing through-and-through, even though we gave up a few runs. Just believing in each other over-and-over again ... that led us to getting this dub."
Third-year sophomore Cameron Mabee
-on escaping 11th-inning jam: "Obviously it's a tough situation to come into, but I just trusted my stuff. I knew we were expecting a bunt with first and second so I just wanted to fill up the zone, throw strikes and just pick up my teammates. Kolton [Scherbenske] threw well for us--I just wanted to pick him up and get our team back into the dugout."
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to play Purdue on Friday, starting at 2:00 p.m. CT at Duffy Bass Field.
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