By WJBC staff
JONESBORO, Ark. – The Illinois State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against host Arkansas State at Kell Field Saturday afternoon. The Red Wolves won by scores of 13-4 and 11-5.
Paul DeJong homered in both games for the Redbirds while Mason Snyder homered in the opener. Daniel Dwyer tallied two hits apiece in both of Saturday’s contests, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a tough day on the mound for the Redbirds.
“We didn’t play well today. We looked like a northern team that has been practicing inside and hasn’t played outside since October,” said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. “The small things that a fundamentally sound team do, we didn’t do.”
Arkansas State (2-1) took control right away in the opener, scoring three runs in the opening frame off Redbird starter Jack Landwehr. The Redbirds chipped away with single tallies in the second and third innings, respectively, before Arkansas State added to its lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third.
The Red Wolves added two runs in the fourth inning off reliever Craig Larkin, and two more in the fifth off Jeffrey Barton. The hosts added four insurance runs in the eighth inning off Alec Altmyer, before Tyler Feece got the final two outs for the Redbirds.
Snyder led the Redbirds with three hits in the opener, as ISU outhit Arkansas State, 13-12. Dwyer, DeJong and Logan Leverett added two hits each in the first game.
Arkansas State took control right away again in the second game, as a first-inning grand slam by Jeremy Brown helped stake the hosts to a 5-0 lead after one inning. ISU starter Jacob Hendren settled down after that, however, pitching four scoreless frames to follow. Hendren struck out nine over five innings of work.
The Redbirds battled back to tie things up at 5-5 after their half of the sixth inning, but the Red Wolves put six runs on the scoreboard in the bottom half to halt the Redbirds’ comeback bid. Matt Lambert allowed five runs without recording an out in the sixth inning, before giving way to Jake Sale, who surrendered one unearned run over two innings of work. Jack Czeszewski finished up the game, pitching a scoreless eighth inning for ISU.
DeJong led the way for Illinois State in the nightcap, collecting three hits, including his second homer of the day. Catcher Jean Ramirez added three hits, including an RBI triple.
Sunday’s series finale was canceled prior to Saturday’s doubleheader due to anticipated low temperatures on Sunday. The Redbirds return to action next weekend, with a three-game series at Southeast Missouri State, beginning Friday.
