SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Down 6-2 heading into the 8th inning, Illinois State scored 10 of the game's final 15 runs to secure the Friday series opening victory, 12-11, over Missouri State at Hammons Field on Friday.
In the back-and-forth contest, the Redbirds were led by five RBIs from sophomore Daniel Pacella as junior Noah Rabin contributed three timely RBIs in the clutch to secure Illinois State (12-11 overall, 2-2 MVC) their second straight win over Missouri State (10-13 overall, 1-3 MVC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds took the lead in the 3rd inning as senior Auggie Rasmussen knocked in fellow senior Greg Nichols to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Bears evened the score in the bottom of the 3rd off an RBI groundout and an RBI single to tie the score, 2-2.
Missouri State would increase the lead with a home run in the 5th inning to lead 3-2 after five.
The lead would spread to 6-2 for the home Bears after seven innings.
Illinois State would not go down easily, as the Redbirds rallied for a six-run 8th inning to retake the lead 8-6. Nichols got the scoring started with a sac fly before junior JT Sokolove singled to left center to make it a tie game.
ILS would rattle off four more runs, including a two-RBI triple from Rabin to see the score read 8-6 Redbirds after seven and a half innings.
Missouri State scored four times in the bottom of the 8th to pull back ahead, 10-8, for the win.
The Redbirds responded once more in the 9th with four runs, including a bases-clearing RBI double from sophomore Daniel Pacella, to lead 12-10 after eight and a half innings.
The Bears would score once more in the 9th but it was not enough as ILS held on for the 12-11 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Senior Cameron Mabee got the start for ILS, going 5.0 innings with four strikeouts
- ILS stranded three runners compared to 14 for Missouri State.
- Pacella recorded his first game in 2024 with five RBIs.
UP NEXTÂ Â
Illinois State is scheduled to continue the series at Missouri State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT.
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