Illinois State Upends Southern Illinois in 12-Inning Thriller

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team edged Southern Illinois, 10-7, in 12 innings in a thrilling game Sunday at Itchy Jones Stadium.

Illinois State (17-23 overall, 6-12 Missouri Valley Conference), which fell behind two runs after three innings, blew one-run leads in the 8th, 10th, and 11th innings but scored three runs in the 12^th inning to ultimately secure the victory.

Third-year junior Luke Cheng and second-year sophomore Noah Rabin each smacked their first career home runs while freshman Daniel Pacella hit his 13^th longball of the season.

Fourth-year junior Jayson Hibbard threw seven innings, allowing one earned run while sixth-year senior Kolton Scherbenske fired a scoreless 12^th inning for the save.

Third-year sophomores Tyler Woltman and Judah Morris each had go-ahead RBIs in the 10^th and 11^th innings, respectively.

Southern Illinois moves to 24-20 overall, 11-7 MVC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

SIU scored twice in the 3^rd inning after a Redbird error opened the door.

On the 10^th pitch of the at-bat, Pacella launched a deep home run to right field to put the 'Birds on the board in the 4^th inning.

The Salukis added a run in the 5^th inning, but the Redbirds rallied to tie the game at 3-3 behind a Rabin sacrifice fly and third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen's speed forcing a throwing error to plate the tying run.

SIU retook the lead in the 7^th inning, but Rabin smashed a two-run homer to put ISU ahead 5-4 in the 8^th inning.

Southern Illinois tied the game in the 8^th inning prior to Woltman drawing a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the 10^th inning to plate a run.

The Salukis tied the game in the bottom of the innings before Morris delivered a pinch-hit single to score Rasmussen and give ISU the lead at 7-6 in the 11^th inning.

One last time, SIU scored once to tie the game through 11 innings.

Rasmussen drove home what was ultimately the winning run in the 12^th inning, but Cheng's first career homer put two insurance runs on the scoreboard as Scherbenske threw a scoreless 12^th inning.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rasmussen's on-base streak moves to 20 games, the longest by a Redbird this season.

• Cheng's first official at-bat since April 8.

• Pacella is three homers shy of Frank Mustari's Redbird freshman record for home runs (16 in 1985).

UP NEXT

Illinois State is scheduled to travel to Iowa Tuesday for a 6:05 p.m. CT contest.

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