SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — An unexpected and prolonged run in the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament saw Illinois State's No. 8-seeded team enter the final inning of the championship game tied with Dallas Baptist.
Ultimately the Redbirds' upset quest fell short Sunday as the second-seeded Patriots scored four runs in the top of the ninth for a 10-6 victory at Hammons Field.
"I'm sure the Missouri Valley Conference didn't expect Illinois State to be hanging around until championship Sunday but we earned it because we played our tails off for four or five days down here," said Redbirds coach Bo Durkac, whose team finished at 16-40.