Nichols, Hibbard Lead Illinois State to 10-Inning Walk-Off Win Over Missouri State

NORMAL, Ill. - Fourth-year junior Greg Nichols scored the tying run and knocked in the winning run while fourth-year junior Jayson Hibbard faced the minimum 21 batters over seven scoreless innings to lead Illinois State to a 2-1 walk-off win in 10 innings at Duffy Bass Field on Sunday.

Missouri State (13-13 overall, 2-4 MVC) took a 1-0 lead in the 9^th inning but Nichols doubled to open the bottom of the inning prior to second-year sophomore Noah Rabin doubling him home.

The Redbirds had runners on second and third with one out in the 10^th inning before Nichols one-hopped the right field wall to score third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen, who was hit by a pitch and stolen second to start the inning.

Hibbard had just two strikeouts but erased two Missouri State singles with double plays, throwing seven scoreless frames on an efficient 72 pitches.

Third-year junior Elijah Dale conceded a solo home run in the 9^th inning but retired the nine other Bears he faced, four of which came via strikeouts, en route to recording his second win of the season.

Missouri State falls to 13-12 overall and 2-3 in the MVC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Hibbard was perfect through the first 13 batters before an infield pop-up fell in the 5^th inning.

The Redbirds were the first team to get a runner to third base but second-year freshman Luke Lawrence's line drive to left field was hauled in the 7^th inning to keep the game scoreless through eight innings.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the 9^th inning on a pinch-hit home run.

Nichols led off the 9^th inning with a double to deep left before Rabin also smacked a double to left to tie the game. Despite the Redbirds having Rabin on second base with nobody out, Missouri State forced extra innings.

Rasmussen was hit to open the bottom of the 10^th inning prior to stealing second base. Second-year sophomore JT Sokolove bunted Rasmussen over to third.

Fourth-year junior Shaydon Kubo walked and stole second as Missouri State employed a five-man infield.

With two strikes, Nichols laced a deep fly ball into the wind, which landed right in front of the 375 sign and ultimately plated Rasmussen to walk off the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Neither Hibbard nor Dale allowed a walk or hit a batter, the second time in 2023 the Redbirds have not allowed any free bases (at Belmont 3/25/23)
• Nichols recorded his fourth three-hit game of 2023.

• Nichols was the lone player on either side with multiple hits in the game.

• Nichols' walk-off hit was the Redbirds' first walk-off hit since Jeremy Gaines singled home the winning rule on 5/25/21 vs Evansville in the MVC Tournament.

UP NEXT  

Illinois State is scheduled to travel to Illinois Tuesday (6:05 p.m. CT), Western Illinois Wednesday (3:00 p.m. CT) and Indiana State April 7-9.

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