Mason Snyder had two hits and 2 RBI in Illinois State's 16-10 loss to Vanderbilt on Sunday. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)
By ISU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Illinois State baseball team built a 10-run lead but couldn’t hang on as No. 1 Vanderbilt scored 16 unanswered runs to earn a 16-10 win and complete a three-game series sweep of the Redbirds.
Illinois State (4-5) scored 10 runs over the first two innings of Sunday’s contest, but Vanderbilt scored four runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth to tie the game. The hosts then broke the tie with six more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the lead for good.
“It’s a frustrating one. It’s one of those deals, as a coach, that’s one that’s going to stay with you forever,” said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. “You’ve got the No. 1 team in the country on the ropes and we couldn’t have played any better than we did for about four innings, and then we just didn’t pitch it well, but give them some credit. They squared up a lot of balls against our guys coming out of the bullpen.”
The Redbirds got off to a fast start, plating four runs on five hits in the first inning. Sean Beesley and Paul DeJong singled and later scored on a two-run double from Mason Snyder. Ryan Koziol singled up the middle to score Snyder, and Dennis Colon plated Koziol with another single to cap the four-run first.
Illinois State did even more damage in the second innings, adding six more runs. The Redbirds drew seven walks in the inning, including a pair with the bases loaded. DeJong hit an RBI single and Koziol knocked in a run with a double, as the Redbirds sent 12 batters to the plate.
Vanderbilt (9-2) started its comeback in the fifth inning, however, as Redbird starter Jack Landwehr loaded the bases and Vanderbilt’s Zander Wiel hit a grand slam off ISU reliever Matt Lambert. The hosts then added six more runs the following inning off Redbird relievers Jake Sale and Steve Heilenbach.
The Commodores completed their comeback by tallying six runs in the seventh inning off Heilenbach and Koziol. Mitch Vogrin pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Redbirds.
DeJong and Koziol recorded two hits each for Illinois State, but the entire Redbird lineup was held hitless between the third and eighth innings. The Redbirds also committed four errors in the game.
Illinois State is back in action Friday, when it will play the first of eight games in Florida. The Redbirds will play three games in Port Charlotte, Florida, beginning with a game against St. Joseph’s Friday. They will play a road game at Florida Atlantic on March 10, before playing four more games in Winter Haven, Florida, finishing up the eight-game trip on March 15.
The Redbirds’ home opener at Duffy Bass Field, against Illinois-Chicago, is March 18.
