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Illinois State University Athletics

Ryan Cermak 4th-straight HR at Kansas 4-8-2022
Scott Beaton, ISU Athletics

Game Recap: Baseball |

Cermak Homers in 4th-Straight At-Bat as 'Birds Doomed by Big Innings at Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After smacking home runs in his final three at-bats on Wednesday at Western Illinois, third-year sophomore Ryan Cermak led off Friday's game with a solo home run to extend his streak to four-straight at-bats with a home run. Illinois State fell to Kansas, 13-9, after allowing five runs in the 1st inning and eight runs in the 7th inning at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Redbirds (12-12 overall, 1-2 MVC) trailed 13-3 but scored six runs in the 8th inning to cut the deficit to four runs.

Second-year sophomore Luke Cheng had three hits and three RBIs as Cermak's streak came to an end on a hard ground ball to the first baseman.

Kansas improves to 11-17 overall.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Cermak led off the game with a home run to left-center field, but the Jayhawks responded by scoring five runs with two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning.

Both starters settled in as neither team plated a run until a 7th-inning two-RBI single from Cheng cut the deficit to 5-3.

Kansas plated eight runs in the bottom of the frame to seemingly put the game out of reach.

Illinois State recorded six-straight singles to start the 8th inning as fifth-year junior Jake McCaw, fourth-year junior Connor Olson, and Cheng all recorded RBIs. Second-year freshman Tyler Woltman walked with the bases loaded before third-year sophomore Greg Nichols delivered a two-RBI double to bring the Redbirds within four. The 'Birds left runners stranded at second and third.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

  • ISU had five players with multiple hits.
  • Third-year sophomore Cameron Mabee posted a scoreless 1-2-3 8th inning.
  • First-year freshman MacCallan Conklin made his collegiate debut as a pitcher (previously played outfield), retiring the lone Jayhawk he faced.

UP NEXT  

Illinois State is scheduled to play Kansas on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT before closing the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT.

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). 

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.

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