CONWAY, Ark. - The Illinois State baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Central, taking the nightcap behind a 10th-inning home run by fourth-year junior Greg Nichols after the Redbirds dropped a 4-3 decision in game one at Bear Stadium.
Freshman Daniel Pacella and third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen also provided key two-run home runs in the game two win while second-year sophomore Blake Stenger homered in the opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)
A two-RBI single by fourth-year junior Adrian Flores got the 'Birds on the board in the 3rd inning before the Bears got a run back on a double steal in the 5th inning.
Stenger blasted a solo shot to left field in the 6th inning, but the Redbirds were unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no outs situation in the inning and settled for a 3-1 lead.
UCA scored once in the 6th and 7th innings to tie before hitting a two-out, walk-off home run in the 9th inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (GAME ONE)
- Stenger now has home runs in back-to-back games.
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Second-year freshman Luke Lawrence made his first career start, starting at third base.
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Second-year sophomore JP Gauthier made his first career appearance at first base.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)
Lawrence provided a two-out, two-RBI single in the 2nd inning to put the 'Birds up but UCA scored the game's next three runs.
Rasmussen blasted a two-run shot to right field to retake the lead for ISU in the 5th inning.
The Bears scored twice in the 6th inning to retake the lead, but Pacella's deep home run pushed home two Redbird runs in the 8th inning to give ISU a 6-5 lead. UCA tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
Nichols went yard in the 10th inning to plate two runs and put ISU on top. ISU stranded runners on second and third in the inning, but fourth-year junior Cameron Mabee slammed the door to secure the ISU win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (GAME TWO)
- Second-year sophomore JT Sokolove swiped two bases, becoming the fifth Redbird to steal two bases in a game in 2023 (Rasmussen, Stenger, fourth-year junior Shay Kubo, and second-year sophomore Noah Rabin)
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Stenger also stole two bases, the second time ISU has had multiple players with two steals in game (Kubo and Rabin at Austin Peay on 2/18/2023)
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Pacella has four home runs in 40 at-bats.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to conclude the series at Central Arkansas on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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