NORMAL, Ill. – The 'Birds pounded out 13 hits while scoring 16 runs, tying the second most runs scored during the 2024 season. Seven different players tallied a hit during the contest, marked by Judah Morris' four RBIs including a double and home run.
In total, five different Redbirds hit a home run on Wednesday, highlighted by junior Noah Rabin's team-leading eighth home run of 2024, as ILS secured a 16-12 win over Northern Illinois.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The 'Birds jumped out in front by scoring eight runs in the first two innings. Three of the eight runs came as a result of a solo home run from JT Sokolove and a two-run dinger by Rabin.
The Redbird bats remained steady as the 'Birds scored four runs over the third and fourth innings, combined. The third inning scoring was marked by Greg Nichols' first home run of the season to make it a 10-2 ballgame. Then in the fourth inning, Morris sent a no-doubt moonshot over the left field fence that absolutely froze the Huskies, plating two Redbirds in the process to make it 12-6 ILS.
Carter Monke started the game on the mound and the junior went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts until a four-run fourth for NIU knocked him out of the game.
After the four runs for Northern Illinois in the 4th, ILS answered with three of the game's next four runs across the next three innings to make it 13-7 after six innings.
The final three innings saw a combined eight runs cross the plate, as ILS got some insurance from the bat of Auggie Rasmussen who knocked out a home run in the 8th inning to make the final 16-12.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The last time ILS had five home runs in a game came in April 2023 at Bradley
- Rasmussen and Sokolove's on-base streak moves to 7 games.
- Morris now has an MVC-best 10 doubles in 2024
- Two Redbirds scored three runs (senior Greg Nichols and sophomore Daniel Pacella)
- Northern Illinois moves to 7-14 after the loss.
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to open MVC play versus Bradley Friday-Sunday at Duffy Bass Field.
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