Daniel Dwyer tied the game with an inside-the-park home run in the top of the seventh inning, but No. 9 Oregon pushed back ahead with three runs in the bottom half of the inning as the host Ducks scored an 8-5 win over the visiting Redbirds Thursday night at PK Park.
Illinois State (1-3) allowed five runs in the bottom of the first inning, but slowly clawed its way back into the game, thanks to a strong showing from its bullpen. The trio of Jeff Lindgren, Mitch Weis and Mitch Vogrin combined for 5.2 scoreless innings as the Redbirds fought back to tie the game.
Owen Miller went 3-for-4 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Redbird bats. Ryan Hutchinson added two base hits and an RBI.
Oregon (4-0) got to Illinois State starter Jeffrey Barton early, tagging him for five runs on three hits and three walks. Phil Craig-St. Louis got the scoring started with a bases-loaded triple, and later scored on a Steven Packard single. Packard came in on a wild pitch to plate the fifth run of the inning.
The Redbirds return to PK Park for the second game of the four-game set Friday night at 8 p.m. CT.
>>Illini Baseball Back in Action
After a season opening 1-2 start at 19th ranked Tulane, the Illinois Fighting Illini baseball squad will look to rebound against Florida Gulf Coast this weekend in Fort Myers, FLorida.
The Eagles opened their season to a sweep at the hands of top-ranked Florida but picked up their first victory against South Florida, with a 13-6 win Tuesday.
Brady Anderson figures to get the nod for FGCU opposite Illinois' Cody Sedlock in tonight's opener.
