The Missouri State baseball team came out on the short end of both games of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader at Illinois State Saturday, dropping game one by a 3-1 score and game two 3-2 in 11 innings.
The game one loss snapped MSU’s 10-game win streak versus ISU, and the Bears are now 15-11 and 2-3 in MVC play after Saturday. Illinois State improved to 11-13 and 2-3 in the league with the sweep.
The Redbirds got on the board in the fifth inning of game one on Kevin Dubler’s two-run double to left. Kevin Konsler added an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.
Missouri State pushed its first run across in the eighth. Kyle Paul singled and moved to third on Clay Coulter’s grounder that the shortstop threw into right field trying to force Paul at second. Paul scored on a Ben Woodbury single to center and Eric Theisen walked the final batter he faced, Nolan Keane, to load the bases with one out for Jim Sajewich. Sajewich got the double play to preserve the 3-1 lead and the victory.
Ross Detwiler (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing all three runs in six innings.
Woodbury opened game two with an infield single and following Lawson’s bunt single two batters later the Bears had runners on the corners with one out. Carlson lined a single over second to plate Woodbury for the first run of the game.
Illinois State took the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the second on Kyle Cherney’s two-run double over a leaping Ryan Mantle in left.
The game remained scoreless into the ninth. Lawson ripped a leadoff double to the wall in left and later moved to third on a passed ball. Two consecutive fly balls were not deep enough to advance him home but Chris Playter came through with an RBI single to center to tie the game at 2-2.
Scott Carroll went nine innings for the Bears, totaling seven strikeouts and retiring 14 of the last 15 batters he faced but leaving with a no-decision.
With runners on first and second and no outs in the 11th, pinch-hitter Nick Crist dropped a sacrifice bunt toward third base. Playter charged and fielded it but made an errant throw that allowed Jesse Griswold to score the winning run.
Austin Todd (1-2) pitched in both games and was charged with the loss in the second.
The final game of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
