Redbirds drop weekend series 1-2 to Middle Tennessee

Image courtesy of Illinois State Athletics

NORMAL, Ill.- The Illinois State University baseball team dropped two of three to Middle Tennessee State in their three-game weekend series.

The Redbirds were struck down in the first two games of the series, losing 13-3 in seven innings on Friday and losing 8-2 on Saturday. Their lone win came on Sunday with a 14-7 get-back game that left the Redbirds’ regular-season record at 7-4.

The first two games did not impress. The Redbirds went a combined 14 hits in 59 at-bats, gaining 5 runs against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 21 runs in the span of the first two games.

Josh Outlaw continued his seven-game hitting streak, notching a single hit and run in 2 at bats friday.

On Saturday, the only highlights came from Ryan Bakes, who had his third multi-hit game, going 2 for 4. And Grhm Mastros, who recorded his fourth multi-hit game, 2 for 5.

Sunday saw the tides change. In the 14-7 win, the Redbirds took an eight-to-nothing lead in the first inning after a two-out rally. Multiple MTSU errors would lead to the Redbirds gaining a 10-1 run lead from the top of the fourth inning. Nolan Barry would hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning,g extending the lead to 13-6, and the game would end 14-7 after the Ble raiders found some momentum.

Josh Outaw and Luke Stulga knotched to hits each to find their fifth games with multiple hits. Brayden Bakes would go 3-3, and witha ninth inning home run, Bakes found himself having a home run in each of the Redbirds’ last three Contests.

The Redbirds will travel to Evannsville Indiana, on Tuesday to face the University of Southern Indiana.

For all things Redbird baseball, stay tuned to WZND.