 ISU starter Chris Razo
(3-0) pitched the Redbirds to the victory with his second straight
complete-game win. Razo allowed just five hits and one earned run
while striking out four Morehead State batters in seven strong
innings of work. MSU starter Blake Smith (1-4) was saddled with the
loss, after allowing five runs on eight hits through five innings of
work.It didn't take long for the Redbirds to get runs on the
board, as they scored three in the bottom of the third inning to
take the early lead. Chad Hinshaw led off the inning with a double,
then stole third base and scored on a wild pitch for the first run
of the inning. Paul DeJong then walked, and Zac Johnson followed
with a home run over the left-field wall just inside the foul pole
to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Redbirds. The home run was
Johnson's team-leading sixth of the season.
ISU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to
extend its lead to 5-0. Brett Kay led off the inning and later
advanced to second base on a wild pitch, before the Eagles got the
first out of the inning. Kay then scored on an RBI single into
center field off the bat of Sean Beesley for the first run of the
frame. Beesley then stole second base and advanced to third base, as
Morehead State catcher Drew Williams misplayed the ball and couldn't
find it as it rolled to the backstop. Hinshaw then hit a sacrifice
fly to center field, which plated Beesley from third to put the
Redbirds up by five runs.
Hinshaw drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning
to widen the ISU lead to 7-0. Kay and Hollenbeck led off the inning
with back-to-back walks, and each advanced a base on a sacrifice
bunt by Beesley. That's when Hinshaw ripped the ball into center
field for the double as Duran Elmore attempted to dive and make the
grab.
[to top of second column] |
The Eagles got one of those runs back in the top of the
seventh inning when Williams led off with a home run over the
left-field wall to cut the deficit to 7-1. The Redbirds wasted
little time getting that run back and tacked on three more in
the bottom half of the inning to end the game due to the run
rule.
Johnson led off the inning with a double and then came around to
score on a single by Aguilera that was bobbled by MSU right fielder
Brandon Rawe and allowed Johnson to score. After the first out of
the inning, pinch hitter Jack Czeszewski walked, and both runners
advanced a base on a wild pitch by Morehead State reliever Gerardo
Arias. Kay then doubled to right field, which plated Aguilera for
the second run of the inning as Czeszewski held up at third base.
Hollenbeck then singled to left field, which scored Czeszewski
and advanced Kay to third base. Beesley then ended the game with an
RBI single to right field, which scored Kay from third for the 11th
Redbird run, invoking the run rule.
Hinshaw finished the game 2 for 3 with three runs driven in, and
Beesley and Johnson each added a pair of hits and two RBIs. Aguilera
was 3 for 3 on the day with a walk.
The two teams will return to action for a doubleheader, beginning
at noon at Duffy Bass Field.
___
Stats
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University] |
