Savas wins 10th game; Redbirds beat Missouri St. 6-1

[May 23, 2013]  NORMAL -- Illinois State starter Dan Savas did not allow an earned run and matched a career high with 12 strikeouts in a complete-game effort that lifted the Redbirds past Missouri State 6-1 in ISU's second game of the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament Wednesday night at Duffy Bass Field.

Savas improved to 10-0, setting Illinois State's Division I record for wins by a pitcher in a single season. It also matched Irish O'Reilly's school record for single-season victories, which was accomplished when ISU competed at the College Division level.

With the victory, the top-seeded Redbirds advance to play Thursday at 7:37 p.m. against the winner of an elimination game between No. 4 Missouri State and No. 5 Evansville. Illinois State is now 2-0 in the Valley tournament this year.

Kyle Stanton led ISU offensively with a 3-for-4 performance, including one RBI and one run scored. Eric Aguilera also contributed a two-run triple that highlighted a four-run third inning to give Illinois State an early 5-0 lead. Luke Voit drove in Missouri State's lone run in a 1-for-4 effort, while MSU's Jonathan Harris (8-2) suffered the loss.

After a scoreless first inning, Illinois State scratched out the game's first run in the bottom of the second, as Stanton led off with a single and later scored on a double to right-center field by Paul DeJong.

The Redbirds added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with an RBI single to left field by Zac Johnson that drove in Brett Kay, who led off with a walk. Aguilera then tripled to center field to plate Johnson and Chad Hinshaw, and Aguilera scored on a double by Stanton to increase ISU's lead to 5-0.

Missouri State answered in the top of the fourth, as Spencer Johnson led off with a double to left-center field. He then scored when Voit singled to center and Hinshaw bobbled the throw, allowing Johnson to score on the error and cutting Illinois State's lead to 5-1.

ISU managed to get the run back in the sixth inning on a sacrifice by Johnson to score Sean Beesley, increasing Illinois State's advantage to 6-1. The Redbirds stranded 10 runners on base during the game, but ISU still held on for the five-run victory, as Savas did not give up a run in the final five innings.

Illinois State has surrendered only two runs in two games of the Valley championship. Wednesday's game also marked the 13th complete-game effort by a Redbird starter this season.

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Box score

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]