ISU wins 9th straight with victory against Western Michigan

[March 12, 2012]  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Bryan Huff and Eric Aguilera both led Illinois State with a 3-for-5 effort in a come-from-behind 10-9 victory against Western Michigan on Saturday night in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at Chain of Lakes Park. The Redbirds (9-3) have now won nine consecutive games, which is the longest ISU winning streak since 1987.

"Even though we gave up nine runs and our defense was not as sharp as it usually is, with four errors, it was great to see that we didn't give in," Illinois State head coach Mark Kingston said. "The will to win always needs to be there, and today was a perfect example of our guys playing hard, playing to win and never giving in."

Huff and Aguilera also collected a team-best three RBIs and two runs scored. Ryan Camp (2-0) earned the ISU victory after relieving starter Brad Sorkin. Camp did not allow an earned run in 1.1 innings, while Sorkin threw the first 5.2 innings without an earned run allowed. Redbird closer Kenny Long was awarded his third save of the season after pitching the final two frames, giving up two earned runs on three hits. Western Michigan's Chris Bossenbery (1-1) suffered the loss.

Western Michigan scored three runs in the first inning to take the early lead before Illinois State responded with four runs in the fourth frame. Aguilera singled, Hinshaw laid down a squeeze bunt, Huff singled and Tokarski singled to each drive in a run. The Broncos tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but ISU gained the lead again in the sixth inning with two more runs. Huff drove in another with a single and later scored on a Kevin Tokarski groundout.

A single by Huff that plated Aguilera increased ISU's advantage to 7-4 in the top of the seventh. However, Western Michigan tied the game again in the bottom of the inning with three runs. The Redbirds answered with three more in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Kyle Stanton, and a two-RBI single by Aguilera that plated Stanton and Matt Mirabal.

Western Michigan edged within one run in the bottom of the eighth, but Long struck out the Broncos in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the Redbird victory.

Illinois State was to conclude its opening weekend at the RussMatt invitational with a matchup against Big Ten Conference foe Iowa Sunday at 1 p.m. Central time.

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[Text from file received from Illinois State]