Game 7 of State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament

WICHITA, Kan. - Kevin Tokarski tied Illinois State's single season hits record with his first career grand slam and lifted the Redbirds past Indiana State in the second round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Eck Stadium Wednesday night.

Tokarski, the MVC Joe Carter Player of the Year, knocked two of Illinois State's 14 hits and helped the Redbirds (29-22) answer a three-run surge by the Sycamores (34-18) with a bases-clearing home run in the fourth inning. The hit, which followed a leadoff single in the first inning by Tokarski, was No. 81 on the season to tie the record set by Todd Schroeder in 1990, and capped a five-run inning for Illinois State.

Indiana State scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth off Illinois State starter JD Learnard to pull within one run, but Redbird closer Kenny Long struck out five over the final four frames to notch his ninth save, tying the ISU single-season school record. Illinois State added four runs in the top of the ninth inning, including two on a double by Ryan Court.

Court and Matt Mirabal led the Redbirds with three hits in the game while Tokarski and Zach Amrein contributed two. Tokarski was 2-for-3 in the contest with three runs scored and two walks. In addition to the hits record, Tokarski moved into a tie for second on the single-season list with 63 runs scored and second on the season walks list with 47. Eight of Illinois State's nine starters tallied hits in the contest and every batter that went to the plate reached at least once.

Learned surrendered five runs on seven hits but it was enough to keep the Redbirds on top for his fourth win of the season.
Kyle Burnam, Luke Fieser, and Ben Ferrell all had two hits in the loss for Indiana State. Joe Rodriguez was saddled with the loss after giving up 12 hits and six runs in eight innings. Five different Sycamores pitched in the ninth inning.

Burnam, Fieser and Ferrell each had two hits for the Sycamores as 10 Sycamores were left stranded.

Illinois State advances to play the winner of Thursday's 9 a.m., game (Creighton/Indiana State), Thursday at 4 p.m.

Indiana State plays Creighton at 9 a.m., Thursday morning.