NORMAL — Sean Sinisko’s shutout was getting away in the third inning Sunday at Duffy Bass Field, but Illinois State center fielder Ryan Cermak simply wouldn’t permit it.
Sinisko’s victory was slipping away in the ninth inning, but reliever Derek Salata slammed the door on Evansville.
Sinisko hurled seven scoreless innings and the Redbirds received clutch performances at critical junctures en route to a 3-1 Missouri Valley Conference victory.
“We’ve been waiting for this particular team to respond this year to adversity,” said ISU coach Steve Holm, whose team won the final three games of the series after a 12-0 defeat Friday.