PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Redbird baseball is back.
Illinois State opens the 2024 campaign this weekend in the 2024 Snowbird Classic against St. Thomas and Saint Louis in Port Charlotte, Florida. All games will be shown on FloSports ($).
Illinois State returns some key leaders to the diamond this season in Honorable Mention All-MVC member, Daniel Pacella, MVC All-Defensive team member, Auggie Rasmussen, as well as seniors Erik Kubiatowicz and Cameron Mabee.
Kubiatowicz and Mabee return after a 2023 season that saw a combined 81.1 innings pitched, 58 strikeouts, 32 appearances (9 starts), and 25 walks for the pair.
SNOWBIRD CLASSIC SCHEDULE (all games shown on FloBaseball)
-Friday at 10 a.m. CT | Illinois State v. St. Thomas | WATCH |
-Friday at 5 p.m. CT | Illinois State v. Saint Louis | WATCH |
- Saturday at 10 a.m. CT | Illinois State v. St. Thomas | WATCH |
-Sunday at TBA | Illinois State v. Saint Louis | WATCH |
ABOUT THE TOMMIES
St. Thomas went 10-34 overall and 6-18 in conference during the 2023 season. The Tommies did not play a neutral site game last season, as they finished 4-8 at home and 6-26 on the road.
The Tommies are returning 22 letterwinners from a season ago, including captains, Evan Esch and Max Moris. Last season, Moris played in 44 games for the Tommies, finishing with a .280 average, 46 hits, 16 RBIs, and 23 runs scored. During 2023, Esch finished 2-3 on the mound with a 4.73 ERA in 11 appearances while pitching 45.2 innings and making seven starts.
The Redbirds and the Tommies will meet for the first time on the diamond in 2024. The Tommies are in their third season as a Division I program, joining the NCAA DI ranks in spring 2022 for baseball.
The Tommies are led by former All-American pitcher for UST, Chris Olean, who enters his 15th season at the helm. Olean has been a member of the coaching staff for St. Thomas since 2001, as he was an assistant from 2001-09 under legendary coach Dennis Denning.
ABOUT THE BILLIKENS
Saint Louis was 33-23 in 2023, going 8-5 in neutral site games. The Billikens would finish 15-9 in A-10 play last season, advancing all the way to the A-10 Championship final before falling in a pair of contests to George Mason (4-1; 6-2).
The Billikens are no stranger to MVC opposition over the last three seasons as SLU has faced off against fellow Valley members Southern Illinois, Indiana State, and Bradley. SLU is 3-4 against the MVC since 2021.
The Redbirds and the Billikens have met on the diamond 64 previous times, as ISU holds the 41-23 series lead. The last meeting between the two came in 2022 as the two sides split a pair of games at Duffy Bass Field.
Saint Louis is led by Darin Hendrickson, who enters his 17th year at the helm of the program in 2024. In his previous 16 years, Hendrickson has led SLU to five A-10 regular season titles (2012-15, 2018) and three A-10 Tournament championships (2010, 2013, and 2018).
2023 SEASON SUMMARY
Illinois State was 20-30 overall (9-18 MVC) in 2023 in a season that saw pitchers Elijah Dale and Derek Salata become the newest 'Birds drafted in the MLB Draft. Dale was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, while teammate Derek Salata saw his name picked by the Oakland Athletics in the 19th round.
Daniel Pacella gained national attention as he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper following a season where he hit .307 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs.
MVC PRESEASON POLL
Illinois State, which finished 9th in the 10-team MVC in 2023, was picked to finish 7th in the 10- team MVC in 2024. Reigning MVC regular season and tournament champion, Indiana State, was picked as the league favorite as the Sycamores received eight of the 10 first-place votes.
OPENING DAY VIBES
The Redbirds have won three-straight season openers (at Austin Peay, win 13-2 in 2023; at #2 Arkansas, win 3-2 in 2022; at SIUE, win 6-1 in 2021) and 8 of the last 11.
Illinois State is 18-33-1 in season openers since 1973 (when Illinois State became Division I).
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).
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