Redbirds Fall to UIC in Home Opener, 10-6

[March 19, 2015]  NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team fell into an early six-run hole and never could recover in a 10-6 loss to visiting Illinois-Chicago in the Redbirds’ home opener Wednesday at Duffy Bass Field.

Illinois-Chicago scored the six first-inning runs off ISU starter Matt Lambert, who was relieved by Mitch Vogrin with two outs in the first. Vorgin, Jeffrey Barton, Craig Larkin, Jake Sale and Jack Czeszewski kept the Redbirds within striking distance, but a four-run eighth inning helped the visitors fend off an Illinois State comeback bid.

Illinois State (8-10) cut the Illinois-Chicago (5-9-1) lead in half by plating three runs in the fifth inning, thanks to an RBI single from Dennis Colon and a two-run double from Brian Rodemoyer. Illinois State tacked on another run in the seventh with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Ryan Koziol.

The Flames answered right back, however, scoring four runs in the top of the eighth inning to rebuild their six-run lead. Illinois State got two runs back in the bottom half of the frame, and had the bases loaded with one out, but Illinois-Chicago induced an inning-ending double play ball to end the Redbird rally. Neither team scored in the ninth inning.

Jean Ramirez led the Redbird bats with three hits and two runs scored. Sean Beesley and Rodemoyer added two hits apiece.

Lambert allowed two hits, three walks and hit two batters over two-thirds of an inning of work. Four of the six runs he allowed were earned. Vorgin and Barton combined for 5.1 scoreless innings before the Flames scored two runs each off Larkin and Sale. Czeszewski pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field Friday for the first game of a three-game set with Eastern Kentucky. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m.

[Matt Wing, Illinois State University]

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