NORMAL, Ill. – Missouri State struggled to get its offense going Saturday afternoon at Illinois State as the Redbirds evened the three-game series with a 7-3 victory at Duffy Bass Field.
 
Starting pitchers Jason Schaaf and Tyrelle Chadwick each went seven innings, with Chadwick (3-3) allowing two runs on five hits, while Schaaf matched his career long outing while yielding five hits and four runs, three earned.
 
Nick Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 31 games for the Bears (24-20, 14-6) with a double in the fifth frame, taking sole possession of the longest streak in school history.
 
The Redbirds (22-22, 11-9 MVC) struck first by loading the bases with no outs in the second and bringing all three home on a ground out, sac fly and error.
 
Taeg Gollert hit an RBI single in the third and Jake McCutcheon drove in a run with a ground out in the fifth to make it 3-2, and ISU answered with a two-out single for a 4-2 advantage after five innings.
 
Illinois State added three in the eighth to make it 7-2, with the Bears' uncharacteristic third error of the game opening the door for insurance runs.
 
Zack Stewart belted a solo homer in the ninth for the final score, his 10^th of the season and 43^rd of his career.
 
The rubber match is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.