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 Indiana State scored the winning runs in the top of the 10th when
the Sycamores, with runners at first and second, attempted a double
steal. Illinois State catcher Jean Ramirez threw to third attempting
to get the lead runner, but the ball hit the base and skipped away
from third baseman Ryan Koziol. Koziol’s throw home to catch the
first runner was errant, allowing the second runner to score.
Illinois State (27-25, 9-12 MVC) got a leadoff single from Ramirez
to start the bottom of the 10th, but could not produce anything
more, offensively.
The Redbirds finished the regular season fifth in the Missouri
Valley Conference standings and will be the No. 5 seed at the MVC
Tournament, beginning Wednesday in Wichita, Kansas. The Redbirds
will face No. 4 Wichita State in their first game.
Illinois State took an early lead in Saturday’s game as Dennis Colon
hit a three-run home run to get the Redbirds started. Koziol doubled
down the right-field line before Sean Beesley reached on an infield
single to set the table for Colon’s fifth home run of the season.
Indiana State (27-24, 8-13) got one run back in the top of the third
when a Landon Curry fielder’s choice scored Connor McClain, and
another when Curry provided a two-out, run-scoring single in the top
of the seventh.
The Sycamores tied it in the ninth with a two-out, RBI single from
Jacob Hayes that scored McClain from second base.
Hunter Owen and Andy DeJesus started the 10th inning with
back-to-back hits, and with one out, attempted the double steal that
led to the game’s winning runs. The Redbirds were charged with two
errors on the play.
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Redbird starter Steve Heilenbach allowed just one run over three
innings of work Saturday before giving way to Jack Czeszewski, who
got the Redbirds out of a bases-loaded jam with an inning-ending
double play ball in the fourth inning. Czeszewski allowed just one
hit over two innings of work, while striking out a pair. Jake Sale
allowed one run over the next 1.1 innings. Jack Landwehr pitched 2.2
innings of one-run relief, and was one out from recording his second
save of the season before Hayes’ game-tying single. Jeffrey Barton
pitched the 10th inning, and was charged with two hits and two
unearned runs.
Ramirez was the only Redbird to collect multiple hits Saturday, as
he went 2-for-4 from the plate.
Redbird seniors Paul DeJong, Logan Leverett, Mason Snyder and Colon
were honored before the game as part of Senior Day festivities.
[Matt Wing, Illinois State
University]
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