NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team won both games of a doubleheader Saturday versus Murray State, prevailing by scores of 7-1 and 13-10 at Duffy Bass Field.
Illinois State scored four runs in the 5th inning to break open a 2-1 game in the opener, and then mounted a late comeback bid in the nightcap, plating eight runs in the bottom of the 8th to secure the series via the doubleheader.
Illinois State improved to 12-14 overall, 4-2 MVC with the wins. Murray State falls to 15-8 overall, 2-4 MVC.
Game 1
Illinois State 7, Murray State 1
Illinois State scored four runs in the fifth inning and held the Racers scoreless over the last six innings in the opening-game win.
Illinois State scored the first run of the game when Shai Robinson homered in the 1st. Murray State tied the game in the top of the 3rd with an RBI double. A sac fly by Daniel Pacella restored the Redbird lead, 2-1, after three innings of play.
The hosts took control with four runs in the fifth. Robinson singled home a run before Pacella recorded his second sac fly of the afternoon to make it 4-1. An RBI single from Graham Mastros proceeded a fielder's choice from Daniel Contreras to spread the margin to 6-1. The last run of the opener came via a HR from Pacella in the 7th inning.
Redbird starter Tanner Perry got the win after allowing six hits with one run allowed and three strikeouts to one walk. Matthew Donnison came on in relief, going 3.1 innings, with two hits allowed and five strikeouts for his first career save.
Game 2
Illinois State 13, Murray State 10
Illinois State pulled ahead early in the nightcap before back-and-forth innings, including a late Redbird rally, would end the night of MVC action.
Illinois State scored in the first inning again in the second game as Brayden Bakes grounded out to drive in Robinson prior to a Racers wild pitch which scored Pacella. As the Racers scored with an RBI single in the top of the 2nd, Robinson brought home two more Birds with an RBI single before an RBI double from Pacella made it 5-1 ILS.
The Racers put three runs on the scoreboard in the seventh. The scoring started with back-to-back RBI triples from Mercer and Vierling. Decker drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-5 after seven innings.
The visitors kept the momentum rolling with four runs in the top of the eighth. Hogart and Vierling recorded back-to-back RBI doubles to make it 8-5 in favor of the Racers as Decker would tally a sac fly to plate the final run of the inning for the Racers for a 9-5 lead.
Illinois State plated eight runs in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded walk, wild pitch, bases-loaded walk, two-RBI single from Pacella, RBI single from Judah Morris, and a two-RBI triple from Bakes for the 13-9 advantage going to the 9th.
The final run of the night came via a bases-loaded walk before the Redbirds halted the Racers.
Tresdon Rybarczyk earned the win in his first appearance this season, throwing one inning with no hits allowed, one run, two walks, and a strikeout.
Redbird Performers Game 1
Top Hitters:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Tanner Perry (W, 2-3): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's
- Matthew Donnison (S, 1): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's
Redbird Performers Game 2
Top Hitters:
Pitching Breakdown:
- Tyrelle Chadwick: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
- Joe Husak: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB
- Carter Monke: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
- Toby Schriefer: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB
- Tresdon Rybarczyk (W, 1-0): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
UP NEXT
Illinois State will travel to Champaign on Tuesday for a midweek meeting with Illinois at 6 PM. Tuesday's game will be available to stream via B1G+, which requires a paid subscription to view.
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on X (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).
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