Redbirds Fall to Maine in Extra Innings, 5-4

[March 14, 2015]  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Two days after winning in walk-off fashion, the Illinois State baseball team suffered a walk-off loss to Maine in the 10th inning of a game Friday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at Chain O’Lakes Park. Maine won 8-7.

Maine (6-13) would have won the game in regulation if not for an outfield assist from Illinois State’s Daniel Dwyer that cut down the potential game-winning run at home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Black Bears won it in the 10th, however, with a two-out, bases-loaded single from pinch hitter Christia Garabedia.

Illinois State (7-8) plated two runs in the first inning Friday to take an early lead. Mason Snyder scored Paul DeJong with an RBI double. Jared Hendren stole second moments later and an overthrow by Maine’s catcher allowed Snyder to trot home.

Maine eventually took a 3-2 lead with single tallies in the first, third and fourth innings, but ISU tied it up in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Ryan Koziol that scored DeJong.

Illinois State took the lead in the eighth with an RBI single from Logan Leverett that plated Snyder, but Maine tied it in the ninth with an RBI single from Brett Chappell, who advanced to second on the play. The Black Bears nearly won the game on the next at-bat, as Brenden Geary singled to center field, but Dwyer threw Chappell out at home and Redbird catcher Jean Ramirez alertly caught Geary trying to take second base to complete an inning-ending double play.

Jared Hendren led off the 10th with a single, and moved to second on a bunt from Joe Kelch, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning for the Redbirds. Maine then won with a walk off in the bottom half of the inning.

The loss spoiled a strong start from Redbird starter Will Headean, who went 5.2 innings while allowing eight hits, no walks and three runs, although only one was earned. Headean struck out 10. Jack Czeszewski and Jake Sale both turned in scoreless relief appearances before Maine scored the game-tying and game-winning runs off Koziol.

The Redbirds are back in action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Saturday, taking on LIU-Brooklyn 12:30 p.m.

[Matt Wing, Illinois State University]

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