?Breds Drop Series Opener to Illinois State

Friday, February 27

Murray, Ky.

12 p.m.

Murray State

Illinois State

2/27/2009 6:00:00 AM | Baseball

Illinois State took advantage of a pair of unearned runs in the early part of the game and rallied with three runs over the final two innings to hand Murray State a 5-3 defeat in the first game of a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field.

The Redbirds (2-2) manufactured an unearned run in the first as Tyler McNeely beat out a chopper behind the bag at third and advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball on the same play. Collin Salzenstein drove in the runner with a slow roller to second base.

The ?Breds (3-2) put together a two-out rally in the second inning as Zach Noonan and Matt Hon walked, and Daniel Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Elliot Frey made the Redbirds pay as he lined a triple into the corner down the right-field line to score all three runners.

The Redbirds added a second unearned run in the third as a misplayed ball in the outfield turned into a three-base error. A wild pitch followed to score the runner.

ILST used a two-out rally of its own in the fourth inning as four-straight hits plated two runs. Salzenstein drove in his second run of the game with a single up the middle and Mike Stalowy scored the second runner with a base hit through the left side.

Corey Maines (!-1) picked up the victory after allowing three runs on five hits and seven strikeouts in the complete game. Chris Craycraft (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits over 5.1 innings.

The two teams will play the second game of the doubleheader approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.