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 The win was highlighted by a nine-run sixth inning, big offensive
days from Logan Leverett and Paul DeJong, and Jacob Hendren turning
in the team’s first complete game pitching performance of the
season.
“It’s nice a couple times a year to be on the winning end of one
these games. It gives guys some confidence with their stats,” said
Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. “It’s tough when you’re playing
in one-run games all the time, and we’ve certainly been on the
losing end of a couple big scores like that, but to go out and beat
a solid team like we did, that was good.”
Leverett and DeJong were two of five Redbirds to tally three hits in
the win; Daniel Dwyer, Jared Hendren and Jean Ramirez matched the
feat. Leverett hit two doubles and drove in six runs, a career high
and the most by a Redbird player in any game this season. DeJong
also doubled twice, driving in career-high five runs.
The Redbirds got off to a quick start Saturday, scoring two runs in
the first as Ryan Koziol hit a sacrifice fly and Leverett drew a
bases-loaded walk. A two-run home run from Ramirez and a two-run
double from DeJong gave the Redbirds four more runs in the third
inning. Leverett added a two-run double, followed by a run-scoring
single from Ramirez, in a three-run fourth inning for the Redbirds.
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Illinois State (8-8) sent a total of 16 batters to the plate in the
nine-run sixth. Leverett and DeJong knocked in three runs each in
the inning, while Jared Hendren, Ramirez and Dwyer also provided
run-scoring hits.
The Redbirds totaled 19 hits in the game, also a season high, while
drawing nine walks, its second-highest single-game total of the
year. Ramirez drove in a career-high four runs, while Dwyer and
Dennis Colon scored three runs each.
Jacob Hendren pitched all seven innings for the Redbirds, turning in
his fourth-straight quality start and earning his staff-leading
third win of the season. Hendren scattered nine hits and did not
allow a walk, while striking out seven.
The Redbirds will play their eighth and final game of a 10-day trip
to Florida on Sunday. The team’s Florida finale against Butler
begins at 9 a.m. CT.
[Matt Wing, Illinois State
University]
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