Box Score (HTML)
Normal, Ill. – The Illinois State University Redbirds made their first game at the new Duffy Bass Field one that they will remember, as Corey Maines hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning to tally a victory over the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces by a score of 3-2.
Wade Kapteyn started the game for the Purple Aces, striking out a career high seven batters over 6 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits, one run and two walks. #J.R. Carbonell# entered the game in relief, pitching out of a jam in the seventh, striking out three batters over his time in the game. #Tom Heithoff #(1-1) took the loss for UE, allowing the Maines home run in the bottom of the tenth.
Evansville opened up the scoring in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by designated hitter Greg Wallace. #Cody Fick and Andy Pascoe notched back-to-back singles with one out in the inning and Nate Smith# reached base on a catcher’s interference call before Wallace knocked a ball through the right side of the infield to plate the Aces first run.
Illinois State tied the score in the bottom of the seventh on a double by third baseman Ryan Court. With one out in the inning, left fielder Anthony Ruffolo smashed a ball up the middle of the field that caught UE starter Kapteyn on the right hand. After a wild pitch, Court laced a ball down the right field line to tie the game at one run each.
The Purple Aces took the lead again in the ninth. Wallace led off the inning with a double over the head of Ruffolo in left field, would advance to third on a wild pitch and be brought home on a sacrifice fly to center field by pitch hitter Trentt Copeland.
UE would allow runs in each of the following innings, to tie the game in the ninth and lose the game in the bottom of the tenth.
Wallace led the Purple Aces on offense on Friday, going 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Evansville falls to 6-10 on the season and 0-1 in the MVC. Illinois State improves to 9-5 and 1-0 in conference play. The team’s with face off again on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
