Lussier tosses seven scoreless to lead Illinois State to win

Okotoks Dawgs alum Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the Illinois State Redbirds to a 5-0 win over the Indiana State Sycamores on Saturday. Photo: Dennis Banks, Illinois State Athletics

April 10, 2021

Official Illinois State Athletics News Release

NORMAL, Ill. – Second-year freshman Jordan Lussier and third-year sophomore Derek Salata recorded a combined shutout for the Illinois State baseball team in a 5-0 victory over No. 25 Indiana State on Saturday at Duffy Bass Field.

Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) fired seven innings to get his fourth win of 2021 for Illinois State (12-17 overall, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference) while Salata recorded a pair of clean innings for his fifth save of 2021.

Third-year sophomore Hayden Jones was 3-for-4 with three extra base hits (two 2B, one HR) and three RBI. Second-year freshman Ryan Cermak added three hits and two runs scored while fourth-year junior Tyson Hays chipped in two hits.

Indiana State (15-8 overall, 2-1 MVC) recorded six hits on the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-An RBI double from Jones and RBI ground out by fourth-year Nick Gile put the 'Birds up 2-0 after two innings.

-A line shot through the left side by Cermak pushed to Illinois State lead to 3-0 in the 5th inning.

-Jones capped the scoring with a two-run 400-foot home run into a crosswind in the 8th inning.

-The Sycamores stranded nine runners in the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

-First shutout by the Redbirds since 5/10/2019 over Bradley.

-A pair of on-base streaks were extended: Cermak extended his to 20 games and Libman's moved to 18 games.

-Salata now has scoreless outings in eight of his last nine appearances.

-Jones joins Cermak as 'Birds with three extra-base hits in a game in 2021 (Cermak three XBH vs SEMO on 2/23)

UP NEXT

Illinois State will look to salvage a series split against No. 25 Indiana State with a 1:00 p.m. C.T. match-up on Sunday.