EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Graham Mastros launched two three-run home runs in the first two innings, powering the Illinois State Redbirds to a 15-9 victory over the Evansville Purple Aces in a Missouri Valley Conference baseball game Sunday at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

The offensive outburst, which included 18 hits, helped Illinois State salvage the final game of the three-game series after dropping the first two. The Redbirds improved to 17-10 overall, while Evansville fell to 7-18.

The most important part of the game was its explosive start, which effectively decided the contest before Evansville recorded its first hit. Mastros, the Redbirds’ second baseman, provided the early knockout blows. In the top of the first inning, after singles by Camden Karczewski and Brayden Bakes, Mastros connected for a three-run homer to right field off Evansville starter Kevin Reed. Kannon Coakley later added a sacrifice fly to stake Illinois State to a 4-0 lead.

Reed was pulled after walking the first two batters in the second inning. Reliever Chris McCormack entered and promptly served up Mastros’ second three-run shot, this time to left field, extending the lead to 7-0. Mastros finished 4 for 6 with a double, two homers and six RBIs.

That massive cushion was more than enough for Illinois State starter Luke Teschke, who dominated over five innings. Teschke allowed no hits and one earned run, striking out six. The lone run against him came in the fifth on an RBI single by Charlie Longmeier, Evansville’s first hit of the game.

The Redbirds continued to add on, scoring four times in the seventh inning, aided by two Evansville errors. Louis Bussard had a two-run double in the frame and finished 4 for 5 with three RBIs. Eric Machej drove in three runs via a pair of sacrifice flies.

Evansville’s offense, held to one hit through six innings, finally broke through against the Illinois State bullpen. The Purple Aces scored two in the sixth, two more in the seventh, and three in the eighth to close the gap. In the eighth, Reagan Reed had an RBI double, Benji Kautto hit a sacrifice fly, and Simon Schulz added an RBI single.

Brayden Zilis entered for Illinois State with two on in the eighth and recorded the final out of the inning before navigating the ninth to secure the win. Evansville scored once in the ninth on an RBI groundout by Ryan Seddon but left the bases loaded.

Evansville reliever Parker MacCauley provided a bright spot for the home team, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings late.

The victory defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast an 8-3 Illinois State win. The Redbirds’ ELO win probability was set at 51%.

Illinois State next hosts Illinois on Tuesday. Evansville faces a doubleheader on Tuesday, visiting Butler and hosting Indiana.