By ISU Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Illinois State baseball team tallied 13 hits but couldn’t overcome 19 runners left on base and eight walks issued in a 9-2 loss to Missouri State Thursday afternoon at Hammons Field.
The difference in the game came in the seventh inning with the score tied at 2-2. Redbird pitchers walked five batters and hit another in the inning, which allowed Missouri State (32-19, 5-13 MVC) to break open the game with six runs in the inning. The big hit in the inning was a bases-clearing double off the bat of Jeremy Eierman.
Illinois State (17-33, 7-11) had plenty of chances throughout the game. The Redbirds left the bases loaded in the second, third, fourth, fifth and ninth innings.
Illinois State starter Steve Heilenbach struck out two batters in the first inning. In the second, he walked the leadoff man, Justin Paulsen. Paulsen then stole second base and was moved over to third on a ground ball. Paulsen later scored on another grounder to give Missouri State the first lead of the game. The Bears added another run in the third inning as they took a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Brian Rodemoyer led off the inning with a double to left-center field. Then, with two outs, Sean Beesley poked a single over the shortstop’s head to score Rodemoyer for Illinois State’s first run of the game. Later in the inning, Daniel Dwyer scored from third on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
Heilenbach went five innings and gave up two runs on four hits. The senior right-hander also struck out five and walked one. Out of the bullpen, Jake Sale and Mitch Vogrin walked four batters and hit one more in the seventh as the Bears scored six runs to take an 8-2 lead.
The Bears would not relinquish the lead as they took the opener of a three-game series. Sale took the loss for the Redbirds. Sam Perez pitch 4.2 innings in relief in a winning effort for the Bears.
Dwyer continued to be productive at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a walk on the day. Blake Molitor and Jared Hendren were the other two batters in the Redbirds’ lineup with multiple hits, with three and two, respectively.
The Redbirds will look to bounce back tomorrow with David Meade on the mound. First pitch at Hammons Field is set for 6:30 p.m.
