Redbirds win 5-4 on Sunday to sweep Morehead State

[April 15, 2013]  NORMAL -- Eric Aguilera's ninth-inning, one-out RBI single to right field scored Sean Beesley to set off a wild celebration at Duffy Bass Field on Sunday as the Illinois State Redbirds (19-15, 3-3 MVC) walked off as 5-4 winners over Morehead State (9-27, 4-12 OVC) to complete a four-game series-sweep over the Eagles. The Redbirds are now a season-best four games over .500.

After surrendering a three-run lead with two outs in the ninth, the Redbirds completed the ninth-inning rally off Matt Duncan (1-3). Beesley knocked a one-out single and promptly stole second base. After a Zac Johnson walk, Aguilera pulled a pitch into right field to score Beesley and empty the Redbird first-base dugout.

Redbird starter Brad Sorkin had a no-decision, going 8 2-3 innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits and struck out three. He was lifted from the game with two outs and one on in the ninth inning and was replaced by Jeremy Rhoades.

Rhoades (1-0), who entered the game with the Redbirds leading 4-1 with two outs in the ninth, allowed consecutive singles to Trey Gross and Taylor Pickens to load the bases. Kane Sweeney's bases-clearing triple tied the game at 4-4. Rhoades struck out Chase Greenwell to close the ninth and earned the victory in 1-3 inning of relief. The two runs he allowed were unearned.

For the fourth straight game this weekend, the Redbirds scored first. In the bottom of the first, Beesley singled with one out and stole his first of three bases on the day. Johnson and Kyle Stanton drew walks, setting up a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Daniel Dwyer to give the Redbirds the early 1-0 lead.

After a leadoff walk in the top of the second, the Eagles answered by scoring a run of their own to even up the score at 1-1.

ISU scored two more runs in the second, after an error and a two-out, two-run single by Johnson. The two teams went scoreless for the next four frames, before ISU added another run in the seventh on a Beesley RBI single.

The Redbirds have now won a season-best five consecutive baseball games and are 7-1 on the current 12-game homestand.

Illinois State remains home Tuesday night and will host in-state rival Illinois. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]