Redbirds sweep Western Illinois with 4-1 win

[May 14, 2012] NORMAL -- Ty Wiesemeyer had a solid day offensively for Illinois State, as he was 2 for 4 from the batter's box with a solo home run and a triple, while scoring two runs in the Redbirds' (29-16) 4-1 win over in-state rival Western Illinois (15-33-1) Sunday in the final home game of the regular season.

Matt Mirabal also played a crucial role in the batter's box, as he was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Brett Kay was also was 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and scored a run for the Redbirds, while Kevin Tokarski was 1 for 2, drew two walks and scored a run.

Brad Sorkin recorded his 11th start of the season and improved his record to 4-3. Sorkin threw six complete innings with six strikeouts, while allowing five hits and one run. From the Redbird bullpen, Justin Hauer came in for two innings and faced six batters, striking out one, and didn't allow a hit. Ryan Camp and Kenny Long teamed up to close the game in the ninth. Long made his 91st appearance in the game, becoming the Redbird career leader in appearances.

For the first time in the series, Western Illinois got on the board first with an RBI double by Brent Turner, driving in Steve Kedroski, who had a leadoff walk to start the second. In the bottom of the fourth, Wiesemeyer protected the plate in a full-count situation and hit his fourth homer of the season, tying the game 1-1.

Wiesemeyer continued to have a solid day in the batter's box, as he hit a triple to the gap in right-center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mirabal to left field in ISU's half of the sixth inning. Illinois State continued its offensive attack in the seventh, as Tokarski started the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on a single by Kay. Mark Menaker singled to the right side, scoring Kay from third to give ISU a three-run advantage, 4-1. WIU was unable to answer in the final two innings and fell to the Redbirds.

Illinois State will wrap up its Missouri Valley Conference schedule with a three-game series at Evansville May 17-19. Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Text from news release received from Lauren Hutchcraft, assistant athletics communications director, Illinois State University]