TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Illinois State baseball team was clicking on all cylinders on Saturday at Bob Warn Field as third-year sophomore Ryan Cermak blasted a pair of home runs to lead the Redbirds to a 12-2 win over Indiana State in seven innings.
Illinois State (10-10 overall, 1-1 MVC) also got home runs from fifth-year junior Jake McCaw and second-year Jonathan Sabotnik as the 'Birds led 7-0 after an inning and a half.
Third-year sophomore Erik Kubiatowicz conceded just two hits to the Sycamores (14-8 overall, 1-1 MVC) in four innings of scoreless relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cermak opened the game with a home run before McCaw added a solo shot in the 1st inning.
A Cermak RBI single opened the 2nd-inning scoring but fifth-year senior Nick Gile delivered the big blow of the inning, a two-out, two-RBI double just inside the foul line and into the right field corner as the 'Birds led 7-0 after the first one and a half innings.
Indiana State got a pair back in the bottom of the frame, but Cermak jumpstarted the Redbird scoring attack with another solo shot in the 4th inning. Fourth-year junior Connor Olson singled home another run before Sabotnik lined a two-run over the right field wall and put the game out of reach.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Third-year freshman Zach Holcomb fired a 1-2-3 7th inning in his first collegiate appearance, throwing just seven pitches.
- Kubiatowicz threw just 45 pitches to record 12 outs.
- For the second time in 2022, each Redbird in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit.
UP NEXT
Illinois State and Indiana State are scheduled to play for the series on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT on ESPN3.
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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