Bradley surges past Illinois State baseball

Posted on May 6, 2016

Bradley put up three big innings in a 10-2 win over Illinois State on Friday at Duffy Bass Field. (Photo GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Illinois State baseball team grabbed an early lead but Bradley put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings Friday in the opening game of a three-game series at Duffy Bass Field. Bradley won Friday’s series opener, 10-2.

Illinois State (14-29, 4-8 MVC) took an early lead by playing small ball in the third inning, but the game changed with one swing of the bat in the top of the fifth inning, when Bradley’s Spencer Gaa hit a three-run home run that gave the Braves a lead they would not surrender.

The Redbirds jumped out front in the third inning with the first run of the game when Joe Kelch plated Daniel Dwyer with a safety squeeze. The Redbirds tried to repeat the feat in the fourth, but Sean Beesley was caught trying to score on Derek Parola’s squeeze bunt.

Bradley (22-16, 6-6) took the lead the next half inning, as Spencer Gaa’s three-run home run over the left-field fence provided the visitors all the offense they would need.

The Braves added four more to cushion their lead in the top of the seventh. Tyler Leffler started the rally with an RBI single to right field off Redbird reliever Jake Sale. Later in the inning, Illinois State’s Rhett Rapshus walked in a run before allowing a two-run single to Brady Wilkin.

Bradley added on in the eighth, with a two-run triple from Paul Solka and an RBI single from Ian Kristan.

Illinois State got one back in the bottom of the inning, when Owen Miller led off with a triple to right field and scored on Kelch’s double to left center. Neither team scored in the ninth.

The top three hitters in Illinois State’s lineup – Dwyer, Miller and Kelch – collected two hits each in the loss. Miller drove in both of the Redbirds’ runs.

Redbird starter Steve Heilenbach was charged with three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out five. Five relievers were needed to finish out the game. Jack Czeszewski and Jeffrey Barton posted scoreless outings. Sale and Jeff Lindgren allowed three runs each. Rapshus allowed one.

Illinois State returns to Duffy Bass Field Saturday at 2 p.m. for the second game of its series versus Bradley.

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