JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Juniors Daniel Pacella and Shai Robinson hit their first home runs of the season as Illinois State baseball falls to Jacksonville, 9-6, on Sunday at John Sessions Stadium.
Illinois State moves to 0-5 to start 2025 while the Dolphins move to 3-4 this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds got the scoring started early in the 1st with back-to-back homers by Robinson and Pacella for the 3-0 advantage. Then, it was Kyle Gibson plating another Redbird run off a triple to right field before Eric Machej brought home Gibson with an infield single to give ISU a 5-0 lead after their first at-bats.
Jacksonville would slowly make their way back with a sac fly in the 2nd before taking the lead with five runs in the 3rd.
The Dolphins added an insurance run in the 5th after a triple and RBI single to go ahead 7-5.
ISU would keep it close as Gibson drove in Pacella for a 7-6 game after five and a half innings.
JU responded with two in the bottom of the 6th off a two-run home run to expand the lead back to three, 9-6.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ryan Weaver, who got the start, made his first appearance for ISU since April 2023
- ISU starts a season 0-5 for the first time since 2006
- Josh Outlaw made his first Redbird appearance, appearing as a pinch hitter in the 9th
UP NEXT
Illinois State heads on the road to Muncie, Indiana, for a midweek meeting at Ball State on Tuesday with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. CT.
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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