NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State welcomed Eastern Illinois to Duffy Bass Field for the final non-conference game of 2024, falling by a 5-3 scoreline Tuesday.
Illinois State (26-24 overall) saw sophomore Daniel Pacella tally two RBIs to move his season total to 57.
Eastern Illinois improves to 17-32 overall and 9-20 on the road this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Eastern Illinois opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a two-run home run and RBI single to build an early 3-0 lead.
Illinois State responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st as Pacella and junior Noah Rabin knocked back-to-back home runs to level the score at 3-3.
After six scoreless innings, the Panthers took a late lead with a pair of RBI singles in the 8th to take the 5-3 lead.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sophomore Thomas Harper and junior Braden Roesch combined for 6.0 innings of scoreless relief, as Roesch tallied three punchouts as well.
- Pacella and Rabin hit the first back-to-back home runs for the Redbirds since May 3 versus Southern Illinois (Rabin and redshirt junior Judah Morris)
- Illinois State is 5-6 in midweek games in 2024
- Pacella's 57 RBIs are tied for eighth-most single season RBIs in program history
UP NEXT
Illinois State is scheduled to wrap up the regular season with a three-game MVC series versus Belmont from May 16-18 at Duffy Bass Field.
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