Illinois State Starts Quick but Drops 11-9 Decision at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team scored four times in the 1^st inning but ultimately fell, 11-9, at Illinois on Tuesday at Illinois Field.

After receiving multiple National Player of the Week honors for his performance in the previous five games, third-year sophomore Ryan Cermak smashed his sixth home run in the last five games to lead off the game before fourth-year junior Connor Olson singled home a run and fifth-year senior Nick Gile blasted a two-run home run to left field for the Redbirds (12-15 overall, 1-2 MVC).

The Fighting Illini (16-14 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) scored six times in the 1^st inning to take the lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Cermak led off the game with a solo shot before Olson singled in a run and Gile crushed a two-run home run. Illinois responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning to lead, 6-4, as the Redbirds missed opportunities to limit the damage.

Illinois State got two back in the 3^rd inning after Cermak and third-year sophomore Greg Nichols walked with the bases loaded but the 'Birds left the bases loaded in both the 2^nd and 3^rd innings.

Illinois scored the next four runs before sixth-year senior Kyle Soberano went the opposite way for a three-run home run in the 5^th inning, his first of the season.

The Fighting Illini added a run in the 6^th inning to lead, 11-9. Offense was hard to come back the rest of the way for ISU as Illinois clinched the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Fifth-year junior Jake McCaw extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a walk.
• Illinois State pitchers threw 54% strikes in the game, walking 10 batters and hitting three more.
• The Redbirds have lost 45-straight games when trailing at the conclusion of the 6^th inning.

UP NEXT  

Illinois State is scheduled to host Valparaiso for a weekend series from April 15-17.

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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