Game 11 of State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament

WICHITA, KAN. -- No.2 seed Illinois State advanced to Saturday's State Farm Missouri Conference Tournament title game with a 9-4 win against No. 3seed indiana State Thursday night in the  Bracket A final that was delayed two hours and 50 minutes due to rain earlier in the day.

ISU took the lead for good in the bottom of fourth inning after being down 3-1 on the back of six runs, including Evan Kohli's three-run homer to give the Redbirds a 7-3 margin.

Kohli led the Redbirds at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort and four RBI, including the home run, which was his fourth of the season. For Indiana State, Lucas finished 3-for-4 to lead ISU at the plate.

Illinois State's Sajewich got the win in relief, going 1 2/3 innings, after ISU starter Brad Sorkin was hit with a line drive and had to come out of the game.

Illinois State put up the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Tokarski scored on a RBI single from Ryan Court, who loaded the bases. Indiana State pitcher Brandon Flora struck out Kohli and Redbird Zach Amrein flied out to center field to end the inning with three runners left on base.

Indiana State center fielder Ryan Strausborger made a diving catch to end the bottom of the third inning, stopping Amrein's fly ball.

The Sycamores tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with zero outs, then took the lead. Jeremy Lucas reached first base on an error by Illinois State pitcher Brad Sorkin. Lucas advanced to third base and Robby Ort scored on the play for a 1-1 tie. Levi Ferguson grounded out to second base later in the inning, scoring Lucas for a 2-1 lead. Strausborger singled, scoring Grant Grgurich to extend out to a 3-1 lead.

Illinois State quickly regained its lead, scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on two hits. The Sycamores posted two errors in the bottom of the inning.

Redbird Tyler McNeely reached base on an error by Indiana State second baseman Grant Grgurich and advanced to second base. Redbird Kevin Tokarski, who walked, advanced to third on the play and Brett Kay scored. Matt Mirabal's double down the left field line scored McNeely and Tokarski for a 4-3 Illinois State lead. Kohli hit a three-run homerun to left center field with two outs for a 7-3 lead.

Redbird Tokarski was caught stealing at second base on a throw from Indiana State catcher Lucas to shortstop Ben Ferrell for the second out of the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the top of the seventh, the first three Sycamore hitters took Sajewich to full counts with a lineout to right, a single up the middle and a walk before Kenny Long came in relief and got Graham to ground into a double play.

In the Redbirds' half, Kohli and Hinshaw walks sandwiched Dorsett's fourth strikeout in his 2 1/3 innings of work. Harlan then took the mound and retired Kay on a lineout and Tokarski on a flyout.

Illinois State picked up two more runs in the eighth off Tyler Browning who came in relief of Harlan. Browning struck out the first Redbird he faced then walked Mirabal who eventually scored on a Thornton double. Thornton then scored on a single  by Kohli after advancing to third on a passed ball. Browning then struck out Amrein to end the inning with ISu up 9-3.

Indiana State loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with one out when Graham was hit by a pitch after singles by Fieser and Lucas. The Sycamores scored on a fielder's choice  to leave runners at the corners with two outs, and

With the win, the Redbirds advance to the championship game at 1:30 p.m., Saturday. The Redbirds will play either Wichita State or Evansville.