NORMAL, Ill. – Bailey Martin was a home run shy of the cycle in a 4-for-5 performance but four errors let a 5-2 lead slip away from Indiana State in a 6-5 (9 inning) loss in the rubber game of a Missouri Valley Conference series at Illinois State Saturday afternoon.
 
Indiana State (16-14, 4-4) used the big bat of Bailey to pace its offense while six other Sycamores registered hits but the hot offense became cold after the fifth inning with only two of the Trees' 11 hits coming in the final four frames. Illinois State (12-23, 3-5) scored two runs – one unearned – in the bottom of the sixth on a hit and an error to tie the game, eventually forcing extra frames.
 
Miller singled in the eighth and Kylie Stober reached on a walk in the ninth but neither runner advanced past first. Back-to-back doubles in the ninth allowed the Redbirds to score the winning run.
 
Della Gher (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing only one run on three hits in two innings in the circle. Stober went 4 2/3 innings in the start, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out two. Ali Domkuski (1-0) claimed the win after allowing only one hit in 3 2/3 innings in the circle for Illinois State.
 
Indiana State's four errors led to two unearned runs for the host Redbirds with one coming in the fifth and the other in the sixth, which tied the game.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Bailey Martin gets the nod in her 4-for-5 performance, falling just a home run shy of the cycle. The junior outfielder led off with a triple in the first, ripped a single in the second hit a double in the sixth. The four hits were a career high for Martin and she recorded three putouts in left field.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
A high-scoring game could have been even more offensive minded but each team left 11 runners on base, respectively.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Ali Domkuski, Illinois State (1-0)
• Loss: Della Gher, Indiana State (2-2)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 16-14 (4-4 MVC)
• Illinois State: 12-23 (3-5 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 1-1 in extra-inning games this season
• Indiana State is now 7-4 in one-run games this season
• Bailey Martin's four hits marked a career-high for the junior
• The Sycamores are now 17-85 all-time against the Redbirds
• Mike Perniciaro is now 7-13 all-time against Illinois State
• The four errors committed were a season high for Indiana State

 
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