Redbird Baseball Earns First Valley Win at Bradley, 9-4

Posted on April 23, 2017
Illinois State scored three runs in the first inning to take control of the game against the Bradley Braves. (WJBC File Photo)

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA  – A quick start, a big seventh inning and Redbird pitchers’ ability to escape jams late in the game helped the Illinois State baseball team secure its first win in Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday afternoon at Dozer Park.

Illinois State scored three runs in the first inning to take control of the game, and then added five runs in the seventh inning to cushion its lead. Redbird pitching then minimized damage in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, allowing just one run in each inning as Bradley twice loaded the bases with no outs.

The fourth through seventh spots in Illinois State’s lineup – comprised of Collin Braithwaite, Derek Parola, Nick Zouras and Joe Aeilts – paced the Redbird offense. The group combined to go 8-for-13 at the plate with eight RBIs and five runs scored.

Redbird starter Brady Huffman allowed just two runs over the first 5.1 innings while striking out a career-high seven batters, marking the highest strikeout total by a Redbird pitcher this season. Matt Walker and Trevor Cross worked out of trouble in the late innings. Jack Landwehr pitched a clean ninth inning.

Illinois State jumped on Bradley early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Zach Barnhart walked and scored on John Rave’s double down the left-field line. After advancing to third on an error on the play, Rave then scored on a sacrifice fly from Braithwaite. After two-out singles form Parola and Zouras, the third run in the inning was produced via an Aeilts single up the middle.

Bradley got on the scoreboard with an RBI triple from Evan Gruener in the bottom of the fifth, but the Redbirds got the run back the next half inning, thanks to an RBI double from Zouras. A Derek Bangert sac fly in the sixth that trimmed the Redbirds lead to two runs at 4-2.

Illinois State pulled away in the seventh, however, rallying with two outs to produce five runs. A three-run double from Parola was followed in short order by a two-run double from Aeilts to make it a 9-2 lead for the Redbirds.

A run-scoring groundout from Andy Shadid in the seventh and an RBI groundout from Brendan Dougherty in the eighth proved to be the game’s final runs.

The Redbirds return to Dozer Park for the third and final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…