By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team celebrated its seniors before the game and the Redbird seniors celebrated after the game, too, following an 8-6 win over Wichita State Sunday at Duffy Bass Field.
Illinois State (17-32, 7-10 MVC) won the three-game Missouri Valley Conference series by taking two of three from the Shockers.
Senior Jacob Hendren turned in a quality start, allowing just three runs over six innings of work, while seniors Daniel Dwyer and Brian Rodemoyer drove in two runs apiece in support of Hendren. Freshman shortstop Owen Miller added a two-run home run in the victory.
Wichita State (19-33, 8-10) rallied late with three runs in the top of the eighth inning, cutting Illinois State’s lead to just two, but closer Jack Landwehr got the final four outs for the Redbirds for his second save of the weekend.
Wichita State took control of the game early with three runs in the top of the second inning, all scored with two outs. Trey Vickers plated the first run with a double down the left field line. Travis Young followed with a two-run single to center field.
The Redbirds countered with a two-out rally of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Blake Molitor singled and Rodemoyer walked to set the table. Dwyer then singled up the middle to score both baserunners and cut the visitors’ lead to one run.
Illinois State seized control with four runs in the third. Jean Ramirez drew a bases-loaded walk to chase Wichita State starter Codi Heuer. Jared Hendren followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in another run. Then, with two outs, Rodemoyer delivered a two-run double off the left-field wall to give the Redbirds a 6-3 lead.
After Jacob Hendren worked out of a jam in the top of the sixth, Miller cushioned the Illinois State lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame.
The Shockers made things interesting with three runs in the top of the eighth. Mikel Mucha drove in the first run with an RBI single to right field, before Alec Bohm plated two more with single to left.
Landwehr was called on to get the final out of the eighth, and the junior closer stayed on for the ninth, pitching a 1-2-3 inning to finish off the win.
The Redbirds return to action with a three-game series at Missouri State, beginning Thursday.
