The Illinois State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader Sunday to Miami (Ohio) as the host RedHawks won by scores of 8-6 and 8-2 to complete a three-game sweep.

 

Miami grabbed control in the opener Sunday with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back on its way to its first win of the day.

Collin Braithwaite led the Redbirds with three RBIs and two runs scored, but the Redbirds were unable to overcome the RedHawks' quick start.

 

The RedHawks jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning.

 

Illinois State got back to within two runs of the lead with four runs in the top of the fifth. Braithwaite provided a bases-clearing triple to plate the first three runs, and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Derek Parola.

 

Illinois State added single tallies in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively, on an RBI triple from Bryce Grimm and an RBI double from John Rave.

 

Redbird starter Brent Headrick suffered the loss in his first collegiate start after allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings of work.

 

Owen Miller went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs, but it wasn't enough as the Redbirds dropped the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. A seven-run third inning for the host RedHawks proved to be too much to overcome for the Redbirds.

 

Illinois State starter Mitch Weis allowed five runs (four earned) over the first two innings.

 

The Redbirds return to action next weekend at Western Kentucky, beginning a stretch of eight games over 10 days.