By ISU Sports Information
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Illinois State baseball put the tying runner in scoring position in the ninth inning but couldn’t bring him in as they lost to Milwaukee, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.
Trailing 4-1 in the ninth inning, Illinois State (15-31) put runners at second and third with one out. Jared Hendren lined a single up the middle to score two runs, but was thrown out trying to take second. Brian Rodemoyer came in to pinch hit with two outs and worked a walk. Representing the tying run, Rodemoyer then made it to second on a wild pitch. But the next batter, Daniel Dwyer, grounded out to second base to end the game.
Redbird starter Jeffrey Barton retired the first six batters he faced while also collecting three strikeouts. Barton walked a batter in the third, which was the only baserunner he allowed through three innings of work.
Jack Czeszewski relieved Barton in the fourth. He went on to walk two batters and give up two hits as Milwaukee scored the first two runs of the game.
In the sixth inning, Dwyer led off the inning with his third walk of the game. Owen Miller followed with a double down the left field line putting runners at second and third with one out. Joe Kelch drove in Dwyer with a ground out to third base and Illinois State cut the Milwaukee lead in half, at 2-1.
The Panthers answered right back in their half of the sixth. Illinois State’s Rhett Rapshus took the mound and gave up a one-out double and then a two-out single as Milwaukee pushed its lead to 3-1. The Panthers added a key insurance in the eighth off of Jack Landwehr.
The Redbirds needed three runs in the ninth but they came up one run short of tying the game. Milwaukee’s Cal Haley picked up the save for the Panthers.
Barton worked three innings of scoreless and hitless baseball. He struck out three and walked one. Czeszewski took the loss after allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Sean Beesley continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double and a run scored. Dwyer worked three walks in his first three trips to the plate and finished the day 1-for-2 with a run scored.
The Redbirds will host their final home series at Duffy Bass Field, starting, Friday when Wichita State comes to town. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m.
