TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Starting pitcher threw a gem with only one earned run allowed, but Illinois State took advantage of their own dominant pitching and timely Indiana State errors to an 8-1 win to open Valley season on a dreary day at Price Field on Friday afternoon.
Ihle (10-6), who fanned four and allowed five hits in 5.2 innings pitched, opened with three scoreless innings for the Sycamores (13-10, 0-1 MVC) before the Redbirds (11-12, 1-0 MVC) took control. Illinois State scored three unearned in the fourth to negate a three-inning 1-0 lead by the Sycamores after a RBI single in the bottom of the first.