Offense Lifts Redbirds over Huskies, 14-6

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team defeated Northern Illinois, 14-6, at Duffy Bass Field on Wednesday evening.

The Redbirds scored double digit runs for the 14th time this season to improve to 19-19. It was also 10th win at home this season for the Redbirds before Missouri Valley Conference play resumes this weekend at Southern Illinois.

Top Hitters:

• Graham Mastros: 2-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI
• Brayden Bakes: 4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
• Judah Morris: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Pitching Breakdown:

• Carter Monke: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's
• Toby Schriefer: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Tresdon Rybarczyk (W, 2-1): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's
• Matthew Donnison: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K's
• Michael Addari: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's

Scoring Breakdown:

• The Redbirds got the offense rolling early with five runs in the bottom of the 1st thanks to RBI doubles from Judah Morris and Graham Mastros, an RBI single from Daniel Contreras, and an RBI hit by Brayden Bakes.
• Bakes added his second RBI of the game in the 2nd with an RBI single to right center for the 6-0 lead.
• NIU would cut the deficit to 6-4 in the 5th with an RBI groundout and three-run home run.
• After an RBI groundout from Shai Robinson in the 6th, ILS padded their lead to seven (11-4) with four runs in the 7th including a solo home run via Morris.
• The Huskies got a run back in the 8th with an RBI single for run no. 5 of the night
• The Redbirds scored their final three runs of the game in the bottom of the 8th with a Mastros RBI double, RBI groundout from Luke Stulga, and RBI single from Kyle Gibson
• NIU doubled home a run in the 9th for the final margin of 14-6

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Luke Stulga extends his team-best hitting streak to 14 games with a double in the 6th inning
• Daniel Pacella has now reached base safely in 30 straight games
• Mastros recorded his first three-RBI game as a Redbird

UP NEXT

Illinois State heads to Carbondale for a three-game MVC weekend on April 25-27 at Itchy Jones Stadium.

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