No. 10 Miami tops Redbirds to end ISU's 10-game winning streak

[March 15, 2012]  CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Even though Illinois State had more hits and fewer errors than No. 10 Miami, the Hurricanes capitalized on eight walks and belted three home runs to beat the Redbirds 11-6 Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. Miami's (13-3) victory ends ISU's (10-4) 10-game winning streak.

"It's disappointing that we lost, but I also thought that we did a lot of great things tonight," Illinois State head coach Mark Kingston said. "We hit the ball well, played solid defense and had more stolen bases than Miami. But we gave them too many free passes, and when we did, they came up with some big hits."

Peter O'Brien hit two of the Hurricane's home runs in a game-best 2-for-3 performance with four RBIs and two runs. Ty Wiesemeyer led the Redbirds with a 3-for-5 effort, including two runs. ISU's offense combined to outhit the Hurricanes 10-9, and the defense committed just one error, compared with Miami's three miscues. Miami's Javi Salas (1-0) earned the win, while Jeremy Rhoades (1-1) suffered the loss.

Illinois State took the early lead with two runs in the first inning. Kevin Tokarski led off the game with a single and later scored on a wild pitch. Wiesemeyer also reached on a base hit and came home on a sacrifice by Kyle Stanton. However, Miami answered with five runs on an error, a single and a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

After the Hurricanes scored another run with a sacrifice fly in the third frame, the Redbirds plated two in the third. Wiesemeyer singled to lead off and later scored on a Zac Johnson sacrifice fly. Mike Hollenbeck then drove home Matt Mirabal with a base hit to cut ISU's deficit to 6-4.

Miami answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but the Redbirds got the run back as Hinshaw scored on an error during a failed pickoff attempt. The Hurricanes then scored four more times before the Redbirds plated the game's final run in the eighth inning, as Eric Aguilera came home on an error.

ISU's spring break road trip continues Wednesday with a single game at South Florida, beginning at 6 p.m. Central time. Live coverage of the game can be heard on WEZC-FM 95.9.

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[Text from file received from Illinois State]