Redbirds suffer 6th straight defeat, lose at Belmont 6-5

[March 04, 2013]  NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Illinois State rallied for two runs in the sixth inning to tie the game 5-5, but Belmont (9-2) scored on a wild pitch to defeat the Redbirds (2-6) 6-5 Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. The Redbirds committed five errors in defeat.

Dan Ludwig (2-1) earned the victory in relief, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Joe Claver (1-2) took the loss after loading the bases without recording an out in the sixth inning. Josh Davis (2) secured the save in the ninth inning.

Brett Kay and Kyle Stanton each had two hits, and Brock Stewart, making his first start this season at second base, added three RBIs. The Redbirds tallied five runs on nine hits. Three Bruins had at least two hits, and Jamie Ritchie added three RBIs for Belmont. The Bruins collected eight hits and made one error.

Chad Hinshaw opened the game by reaching on an error. He collected his fourth stolen base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on Zac Johnson's sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 Illinois State in the first inning.

Stanton and Mike Hollenbeck collected consecutive singles to open the second inning. They advanced to second on a sacrifice from Jack Czeszewski and scored on Stewart's two-run single. The Redbirds led 3-0 until the bottom of the fourth.

Illinois State committed two errors in the bottom of the fourth inning, leading to a pair of Belmont runs. Jamie Ritchie and Dom Veltri collected RBIs, while Stewart and Johnson were charged with errors.

Scott Moses and Ritchie added RBIs in a three-run fifth inning, giving Belmont a 5-3 lead. Illinois State starter Dan Savas worked five innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts. He finished with a no-decision.

The Redbirds rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning. Daniel Dwyer and Stewart each had one RBI, scoring Stanton and Czeszewski, respectively. Bruins starter Austin Coley went 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits. He struck out six and had a no-decision.

Claver loaded the bases on one walk and two hit-by-pitches to open the sixth inning. Otto Roberts relieved Claver and threw a wild pitch, scoring Veltri and giving Belmont the lead for good. The run was charged to Claver, who took the loss. Roberts finished with two scoreless innings in relief. Chris Razo pitched a scoreless eighth for Illinois State.

In the ninth, Davis surrendered a two-out hit to Kay before retiring Johnson to end the game.

The series concluded Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Nashville as Brad Sorkin faced James Buckelew. (See report.)

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]