By ISU Sports Information
OXFORD, Ohio – The Illinois State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader Sunday to Miami (Ohio) as the host RedHawks won by scores of 8-6 and 9-4 to complete a three-game sweep.
Illinois State fell to 2-7 with the losses, while Miami improved to 3-7.
Game 1
Miami 8, Illinois State 6
Miami grabbed control in the opener Sunday with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back on its way to its first win of the day.
Collin Braithwaite led the Redbirds with three RBIs and two runs scored, but the Redbirds were unable to overcome the RedHawks’ quick start.
Adam Yacek’s two-run double and an RBI single from Tyler Harris staked the hosts to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The RedHawks then doubled their lead to 6-0 with a two-run home run from Harris and a run-scoring single from Dallas Hall in the fourth inning.
Illinois State got back to within two runs of the lead with four runs in the top of the fifth. Braithwaite provided a bases-clearing triple to plate the first three runs, and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Derek Parola.
Miami grabbed momentum back in the bottom of the fifth, however, with an RBI triple from Harris and a squeeze bunt from Brooks Urich.
Illinois State added single tallies in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively, on an RBI triple from Bryce Grimm and an RBI double from John Rave.
Redbird starter Brent Headrick suffered the loss in his first collegiate start after allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings of work. David Meade allowed two runs in an inning of relief work before Brady Huffman finished the game with three scoreless innings of work.
Game 2
Miami 9, Illinois State 4
Owen Miller went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs, but it wasn’t enough as the Redbirds dropped the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader. A seven-run third inning for the host RedHawks proved to be too much to overcome for the Redbirds.
Miller got the Redbirds on the scoreboard first in the nightcap, as his RBI single in the top of the first inning scored Ryan Hutchinson.
Miami scored two runs in the bottom of the second when Carlos Texidor provided an RBI single and Urich scored on a passed ball. The Redbirds got those runs back in the top of the third on a two-run triple from Miller, but the RedHawks took control for good with seven runs in the bottom of the third.
Yacek started the rally with a two-run homer. A Redbird error allowed another run to score before Texidor cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Steve Sada capped the rally with a single up the middle to plate Texidor.
The Redbirds got one run back late, when Rave doubled to left center to score Nick Zouras.
Illinois State starter Mitch Weis allowed five runs (four earned) over the first two innings. Mitch Vogrin was charged with four runs (three earned) over the next two innings. Trevor Cross, Braden Niksich and Matt Walker all posted scoreless outings to finish out the nightcap.
The Redbirds return to action next weekend at Western Kentucky, beginning a stretch of eight games over 10 days.
