TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - An unlikely hero came through with Illinois State's second walk-off hit of the day in an unusual location as the Redbirds (15-5, 2-0 MVC) swept a Missouri Valley Conference baseball doubleheader versus Bradley (13-5, 0-2 MVC) Friday afternoon at Indiana State's Bob Warn Field.

After Logan Leverett ended the first game early with a 3-run home run in the seventh inning for a 13-3 Illinois State win in the opener, relief pitcher David Suarez delivered a RBI single in his first career collegiate at-bat for a 7-6 Redbirds win in the nightcap.

The teams will complete the 3-game series with a 1 p.m. EDT game Saturday at Bob Warn Field.

Game 2 Recap
Bradley roughed up Illinois State starter Dylan Craig for five runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead, but the Redbirds rallied with four runs over the final three innings to complete the comeback.

Suarez (2-0), who earned the win by pitching the final two innings of shutout relief, moved into the DH spot in the batting order after the Redbirds got an infield single and a hit by pitch with one out off Bradley reliever Sean Safko (0-1). After looking silly on a bunt attempt, Suarez came through with a sharp single through the box, plating Joe Kelch with the winning run.

Max Murphy was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles for Bradley, while Tyler Leffler delivered the big hit in the third inning for the Braves, just missing a grand slam home run with a 3-run double off the top of the left center field fence.

Mike Hollenbeck led Illinois State's 14-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with three RBI's.

Game 1 Recap
Dan Savas scattered four hits in 7.0 innings and Illinois State (14-5, 1-0 MVC) scored seven runs with two outs in the second inning en route to a 13-1, 7-innings win against Bradley (13-4, 0-1 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Illinois State's Bob Warn Field.

Bradley had an opportunity to jump out to a quick lead as Savas (6-0) struggled with his control in the first inning. The Braves loaded the bases with one out on a Chris Godinez leadoff double, a Max Murphy walk and a Greg Partyka hit-by-pitch, but after Tyler Leffler thought he drew a run-scoring walk on a 3-0 high strike, he grounded into a double play to end the top of the first.

After Illinois State pushed one across in the top of the first without the benefit of a hit, the Redbirds benefitted by a similar borderline ball-strike call in the second to help break the game open. Struggling with his control from the outset, Bradley starter David Koll (2-2) loaded the bases with two outs in the second with a hit by pitch and two walks. He appeared to get out of the jam by catching Sean Beesley looking on a backdoor curveball, but given a reprieve, Beesley delivered with a 3-run double on the next pitch.

After Beesley opened the flood gates with Illinois State's first hit, the Redbirds went on to pound out 11 hits, ending the game on Logan Everett's 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to invoke The Valley's 10-run rule. Bradley entered the game among the nation's top 40 in both fewest walks allowed per nine innnings and strikeouts-to-walk ratio, but the combination of Koll (four walks) and reliever Peter Resnick (three walks) combined to walk seven Redbird hitters in 6.0 innings.

The second game of Friday's doubleheader is slated for a 3:45 p.m. (EDT) start at Indiana State's Bob Warn Field. The series was moved to the home of the Sycamores due to unplayable field conditions at both Illinois State's Duffy Bass Field and Bradley's Dozer Park as the ground continues to thaw throughout Central Illinois.