Redbirds sweep doubleheader

[April 22, 2013]  NORMAL -- Behind strong pitching from Dan Savas, Chris Razo, David Suarez and Jeremy Rhoades, the Illinois State Redbirds (21-16, 5-3 MVC) swept a doubleheader against Indiana State (17-16, 7-7 MVC), 4-2 and 9-1, Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. The Redbirds have now won nine of their last 11 games.

Game one: Illinois State 4, Indiana State 2

Chris Razo (4-0) did not allow an earned run through six innings of work, and Illinois State handed Sycamore starter Sean Manaea (5-3) the loss in the first game.

The Redbirds and the Sycamores were scoreless through three complete innings, but Indiana State got its bats going in the top of the fourth. After back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning, the Sycamores got two runs on base with back-to-back walks and loaded the bases with a Redbird error. A fielder's choice and single pushed across two runs for Indiana State. The Redbirds were eventually able to get out of the inning but found themselves down by two.

In ISU's half of the sixth inning, the Redbirds batted through their lineup and scored four runs. Chad Hinshaw started the inning, reaching first on a catcher's interference call. Zac Johnson then singled to right field to put runners on first and second. With no outs, Eric Aguilera homered to right-center field to clear the bases and give Illinois State its first lead of the game, 3-2. It was the first home run Manaea allowed in 56 innings pitched this season.

Still in the sixth, Brett Kay was attempting a sacrifice bunt, but he beat out the play for a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Mike Hollenbeck got hit by a pitch to load the bases for Marshall Vallandingham, who pinch hit. Vallandingham singled to score Daniel Dwyer for the fourth run of the inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hinshaw hit a low fly ball to right field but couldn't get the ball down, as Indiana State's Jacob Hayes made a diving catch to end the inning, but not before Illinois State took a two-run lead, 4-2.

The Sycamores weren't able to push any more runs across, and the Redbirds took game one 4-2. Rhoades threw the final three innings for his fourth save.

Game two: Illinois State 9, Indiana State 1

Dan Savas (6-0) pitched eight innings, allowing just one run with six strikeouts and only two walks, as the sophomore right-hander led Illinois State to the second victory over Indiana State.

After the Sycamores jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Redbirds tied the game up in the third inning when Vallandingham walked and later scored on a wild pitch. Illinois State took a permanent lead in the fourth frame, as Dwyer reached on a walk, moved to third on back-to-back wild pitches and scored on a single up the middle by Hollenbeck.

The Redbirds added two more runs in the fifth inning, before blowing the game open with a five-run seventh inning. Hinshaw led off with a home run over the left-field fence to open the scoring floodgates. Indiana State's Devin Moore (3-4) was saddled with the loss.

With the series already secured, Illinois State was going for the series sweep Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]