SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A five-run first inning gave the Illinois State baseball team all the offense it needed as the No. 8 seed Redbirds bested top-seeded Missouri State in an elimination game Sunday at Hammons Field. Illinois State won by a 7-2 score.
The win sends Illinois State (16-39) to the tournament's title game, versus No. 2 seed Dallas Baptist (39-19), at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live as part of The Valley on ESPN3.
Noah Sadler went 3-for-4 and delivered the biggest hit of the game against Missouri State – a three-run double in the first inning – and Redbird pitching made the early lead stick, as starter Jack Landwehr and the relief team of Mitch Vogrin, Trevor Cross, Michael Sebby and Brady Huffman limited the No.