In the opening game of the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn., IU and Illinois State would trade punches several times before the Hoosiers would hold on to win it by a score of 6-4.
The Hoosiers got ahead early in the first inning. With two outs, Jerrud Sabourin continued his hot streak by singling through the right side. Alex Dickerson followed it up with another single. Josh Lyon then singled down the right field line, driving in Sabourin, but a relay throw cut down Dickerson at the plate trying to push the lead further.
Illinois State answered right back in the second inning after a lead-off walk by Evan Kohli. A wild pitch on a strikeout advanced Kohli to second, where Josh Colon drove him in on a single to right center.
IU would add a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Back to back walks drawn by Dickerson and Lyon to lead off the inning, and a sac bunt by co-captain outfielder Michael Earley led to a two-out clutch single by Sterling Mack to push the Hoosiers lead to 3-1.
However, in the sixth inning, IU freshman Walker Stadler would allow a lead-off double by ISU left fielder Anthony Ruffolo. A wild pitch would advance him to third, before striking out first basemen Zach Amrein. That would be Stadler's final batter.
Freshman Mike McKinley would relieve Stadler, and following two walks and a strikeout, ISU right fielder Jake Thornton would deliver a two-out bases loaded single up the middle, driving in two runs to tie the game up at three a piece. McKinley would get the next hitter to ground out to third basemen Micah Johnson end the inning without further damage.
IU would answer right back in the bottom of the sixth. Following a Tyler Rogers strikeout, Mack would be hit by a pitch, and promptly stole second after that. Back to back errors by ISU freshman shortstop Brett Kay would both move Mack to third and score him, respectively. Co-captain Brian Lambert would line out to center to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, ISU would battle back to tie the game back up. Kay would redeem himself with a lead-off single and scoring two batters later on a fielding error by Micah Johnson.
Continuing the trend of trading punches, IU would strike back in the bottom half of the inning. Lyon would walk with one out, and steal second following an Earley strikeout. Rogers would come up with a clutch two out single to left to give the Hoosiers a 5-4 lead.
McKinley would strike out the lead-off hitter and give up a single to ISU catcher Matt Mirabal in the top of the eighth before IU Coach Tracy Smith would bring in his closer, Chris Squires, for the five out save.
Squires would allow a single to put runners at first and second. Mirabal would then get caught stealing third on a bold decision that would eventually kill their rally as Squires would retire the next hitter on a ground-out to third base.
IU would add an insurance run in the bottom of the inning on yet another error by the ISU defense. IU shortstop Michael Basil would draw a lead-off walk and advance to third on a fielding error by the third basemen. Sabourin would then drive him in with his third single of the day to make it 6-4, IU. After a Dickerson walk to load the bases, Lyon would hit a tapper to the third basemen, who would flip it home for the force out. T.C. Knipp came in to pinch hit for Earley and flied out to end the inning.
Squires would have no problems closing the door in the ninth. He struck out Kay, got a ground ball to second, and struck out Ruffolo to earn his second save of the year and end the game. Stadler was stuck with the no-decision, as he was charged with the run the came around to tie the game that McKinley inherited.
McKinley is now 2-0.
IU will face Kent State (4-3) at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
