Cermak Tied for 2nd on Home Run List as Illinois State Splits on Senior Day

NORMAL, Ill. – Third-year sophomore Ryan Cermak blasted his 19^th home run of 2022 to move into a tie for 2^nd on Illinois State's single-season home run record list as Illinois State split a doubleheader against Missouri Valley Conference-leading Southern Illinois on Friday at Duffy Bass Field. Illinois State won game one, 4-1, before dropping the nightcap, 7-1.

Cermak tied Mike Prior (1985) and Brad James (1991) and needs four more home runs to catch Ryan Duncheon (23 - 1999). Cermak also tied Prior for 4^th on the career home runs list with 32. Cermak is the lone Redbird since 1999 to hit at least 15 home runs in a season.

Illinois State honored Kyle Soberano, Aidan Huggins, Nick Gile, Jake McCaw, Colin Wyman, and 2019 MVC Player of the Year and current assistant coach Joe Aeilts in a ceremony following the conclusion of the final game of the regular season.

Illinois State will play in the single-elimination portion of the MVC Tournament on Tuesday against tournament host Missouri State.

Southern Illinois (40-14 overall, 16-5 MVC) clinched at least a share of the MVC title, its first since 1990, and awaits the results of the Evansville-Valparaiso series to see if they will win the title outright.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Game One

Cermak's 413-foot home run put ISU up, 1-0, through two innings. SIU tied the game in the 3^rd inning.

ISU scored once in the 6th, 7th, and 8^th innings. Fourth-year junior Connor Olson singled home a run in the 6^th inning, second-year sophomore Luke Cheng singled in a run in the 7^th inning, and Gile blasted a 448-foot home run in the 8^th inning for a key insurance run for the Redbirds.

Third-year sophomore Cameron Mabee fired three scoreless innings to close the game and earn the save.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Game One 

• The Redbirds outhit the Salukis, 8-6.
• Illinois State struck out just twice.

• Fourth-year sophomore Sean Sinisko turned in potentially his best start of the season, throwing six innings and allowing one run to earn the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Game Two

A Cermak RBI in the 3^rd inning put Illinois State up, 1-0.

SIU tied the game the game on a wild pitch in the 4^th inning before hitting three-run homers in the 4^th and 8^th innings to put the game away.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Game Two

• First-year freshman JT Sokolove had a team-high three hits and was the lone Redbird in the lineup not to strike out.
• Third-year sophomore Erik Kubiatowicz threw 3.1 scoreless innings in middle relief.

• First-year freshman Ryan Weaver opened the game with two scoreless innings of work in his first appearance at Duffy Bass Field.

UP NEXT  

Illinois State will play in the single-elimination portion of the MVC Tournament on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. CT against tournament host Missouri State.

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