EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team opened its 2021 campaign with victories of 6-1 and 9-1 at SIUE on Tuesday at Simmons Baseball Complex.
Second-year freshman Ryan Cermak had the go-ahead two-run home run in the second game, in addition to a pair of doubles in a five-RBI performance for the Redbirds (2-0).
Second-year freshmen pitchers Cameron Mabee, Erik Kubiatowicz, and Jordan Lussier each turned in impressive outings.
Mabee fired four scoreless innings in game one to pick up the win; Kubiatowicz picked up a save, leaving two inherited runners stranded in the fifth inning of game one en route to recording game one's final seven outs, which included a career-high four strikeouts; and Lussier threw five innings, conceding one run, two hits, a walk, and an HBP.