The Redbirds' second outing of the season yielded three losses this weekend, putting them on a four game losing streak.  After working to end the streak in game three on Sunday, Illinois State baseball ultimately fell in all three games in their series at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn.

“[It was] disappointing,” said head coach Mark Kingston. “I thought we came out ready to play, but we have to make some adjustments. There's no question about it …  We will continue to evaluate where we are. Obviously we're not real happy with where we are right now — losing four in a row.  One thing I know: the older guys on our team, the leadership on our team, will keep pushing this thing forward. We'll make adjustments and we'll get better.”

Game 1: ISU 4, Austin Peay 9

The Austin Peay Governors scored in all but three innings in the series opener at Raymond C. Hand Park, with APSU flamethrower Lee Ridenhour striking out six in 6.1 innings, marking his second-consecutive win to start the season. Illinois State starting pitcher, senior Brad Sorkin (1-1), threw four innings and allowed five runs, with four earned runs. He also had two walks and one strikeout. 

Freshman Steve Heilenbach and Sophomore Jeremy Rhoades both threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts each.

Governors scored on Sorkin twice in the first inning, but ISU scored with two outs and cut the deficit to one run in the second. This came after junior Mike Hollenbeck walked and was brought home by junior Marshall Vallandingham with an RBI single.  Austin Peay managed to score twice more in the bottom of the second to reclaim the lead.

Jordan Hankins and Reed Harper set the curve for the Governors with three hits each, as the Austin Peay out-hit Illinois State, 14-6.  ISU lefty Eric Aguilera launched a three-run homer, bringing home Chad Hinshaw and Brett Kay, in the top of the eighth for ISU.  This was Aguilera's first homerun of the season.

Game 2: ISU 6, Austin Peay 9

The second day of play in Clarksville saw ISU commit six errors, five of which came in the bottom of the fifth inning where the Governors scored eight of their nine runs.

Chad Hinshaw was 3-for-4 with a homerun and four runs scored. Brett Kay and Eric Aguilera each knocked in two runs. The Redbirds recorded four runs in the first five innings, but Governors answered with eight in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Sophomore starter Dylan Craig suffered the loss, going 4.2 innings with six earned runs on five hits.  Craig also walked three and struck out six, but could not overcome the fifth inning, which saw 14 Austin Peay batters come to the plate. Junior JD Learnard relieved Craig, but gave up two unearned runs and two hits. Freshman Will Headan threw 3.1 innings with two k's and an earned run.

Craig, as well as ISU's Kay, Hinshaw, Zac Johnson and Brock Stewart all had errors. Kay's two-run double in the eighth inning made it 9-6 Governors. Austin Peay's Tyler Rogers put the tying-run at the plate, but retired Stewart to end the game clinch the series for his team.     

Game 3: ISU 4, Austin Peay 6

Despite their efforts, the Redbirds could not pull through in the last game of the series on Sunday. Sophomore Joe Claver took the loss, with two earned runs in 2.1 innings, four walks and a strikeout.

Eric Aguilera paced ISU's 10-hit-game, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Kay and freshman Matt Krenz each had two hits. Johnson and freshman Jack Czeszewski both recorded an RBI.

With the teams exchanging runs in the fourth-inning, and ISU adding two more in the fifth, Claver pitched the Redbirds out of trouble in the sixth and held ISU in the game. Aguilera lined a two-strike RBI-single to right field off Quick to score Kay and give Illinois State its first lead, 4-3.

Walks from Claver and reliever JD Learnard loaded up the bases in the seventh, in front of a two-run single which gave the Governors a permanent 6-4 lead over the Redbirds.

ISU baseball will travel to Nashville for a three game series at Belmont starting March 1.