Redbirds drop opener to Bowling Green 7-5

[March 16, 2013]  NORMAL -- Brock Stewart recorded three hits as the Illinois State baseball team (6-9, 0-0 MVC) dropped the first game of a four-game series 7-5 to Bowling Green (4-9, 0-0 MAC) Friday evening at The Corn Crib.

The Falcons jumped out to an early six-run lead, with four runs in the third inning and two runs in the fourth. The Redbirds answered with a big fifth inning of their own, plating five to cut the Bowling Green lead to one.

Brett Kay started the two-out fifth-inning rally with an infield single. Chad Hinshaw followed suit, driving one up the middle for a single, advancing Kay to third. Eric Aguilera got the Redbirds on the board, doubling through the right side, scoring Kay from third.

Stanton then singled to right field, scoring Hinshaw and Aguilera to pull within three runs of the Falcons. Zac Johnson, Stewart and Daniel Dwyer recorded three straight singles to top off seven straight hits for the Redbirds, rounding out a five-run fifth inning for ISU.

The two teams went scoreless the next three innings. Then a one-run ninth for the Falcons sealed the fate for the Redbirds as ISU fell 7-5 for its second straight loss.

The Redbirds return to The Corn Crib for a doubleheader Saturday against Bowling Green, with the first game starting at noon.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]