Box Score NORMAL, Ill. – SIUE baseball scored two runs in the top of the 11th to complete another midweek comeback. The Cougar knocked off Illinois State 14-12 after trailing 12-5 after four innings.
SIUE improved to 7-12. Illinois State dropped to 6-12.
Gage Franck got things moving in the 11th when he worked a one-out walk and then went to third when Lane Crowden ripped a double inside the left field line. John Stallcup sent a foul fly to left field deep enough for Franck to come home on the sacrifice. Daniel Gierer then lined a single up the middle to score Crowden with the insurance run.
Alex Rodriguez retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to secure his first save of the year. Gabriel Nutter and Tyler Davis combined for 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing the Cougars the chance to come back. Davis (2-1) struck out four in two innings to earn the win. Nutter fanned two in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Cougars trailed 12-5 after four innings. The Cougars scored three times in the sixth. Crowden led off the inning with his first home run as a Cougar. Chase Bloomer added an RBI double and Ryan Niedzwiedz singled home Bloomer.
SIUE then plated four runs in the eighth inning. Bloomer picked up another RBI with a double. Niedzwiedz added another RBI with a groundout and Joshua Heyder drove in a run with a two-out single.
The Cougars took the initial lead with a three-run first inning. Niedzwiedz, Heyder and Kyle Ratliff each picked up RBIs in the first inning.
The Redbird got a first inning run, before scoring five times in the third inning. ISU got three hits in the inning but were helped out by two walks and a hit batter in the inning.
Stallcup and Mack Mitchell picked up RBIs for the Cougars in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 6-5.
Illinois State answered with two runs of its own on four hits in the bottom of the inning. Shai Robinson launched a grand slam to left center in the fifth for the 12-5 lead.
The Cougars open Ohio Valley Conference action with a three-game series against Morehead State beginning Friday at Simmons Baseball Complex.
