NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team, winners of three of their last five, will travel to Valparaiso for a three-game series from April 4 - 6.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (12-15, 4-2 MVC) at Valparaiso (7-17, 2-4 MVC)
SCHEDULE (AT VALPARAISO)
Friday at 3:00 PM |Â ESPN+ |Â STATS
Saturday at 1:00 PM | ESPN+ | STATS
Sunday at 1:00 PM | ESPN+ | STATS
ABOUT THE BEACONS
Valparaiso is 7-17 in 2025, 2-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play, and 2-1 at home this season. The Beacons enter the weekend after defeating Milwaukee in midweek play on Tuesday by an 8-6 final.
The Redbirds and Beacons have met 45 times before, dating back to 1969, as Illinois State leads the series, 29-15-1.
In last year's series, Illinois State swept Valparaiso at Duffy Bass Field by final scores of 11-1, 3-1, and 6-0. In the series finale, Tanner Perry struck out a season-high 10 Beacons, allowing no runs and only two hits over his 6.0 innings of work.
REDBIRDS ON THE ROAD
Since 2019, Illinois State is 30-36 on the road in MVC play under Steve Holm. When playing in Valparaiso, the Birds are 3-4 under Holm.
The Redbirds last played in Valparaiso to conclude the 2023 season, taking two of the three games against the Beacons.
The Redbirds dropped game one (7-6) before storming back to outscore Valparaiso 30-13 over the final two games.
RESILIENT REDBIRDS
Illinois State picked up their second MVC series win of the 2025 campaign on March 29, defeating Murray State in a Saturday doubleheader at Duffy Bass Field.
In the nightcap, the Redbirds would spark a late-inning rally to secure a 13-10 win.
In the 8th inning of Saturday's doubleheader, Illinois State scored eight runs off four hits with 12 batters coming to the plate to pull ahead 13-9.
Daniel Pacella knocked in the go-ahead run with a two-RBI single.
On the very next pitch, Judah Morris sent one through the left side to plate a run before Brayden Bakes sent both Pacella and Morris home with a bases-clearing triple.
LEADING THE WAY
As of April 2, here is where Illinois State stands among the Missouri Valley Conference as a team and individually:
ILLINOIS STATE TO HOST MVC TOURNAMENT
The 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships will take place from Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois.Â
The eight-team tournament opens on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and is scheduled to run through Saturday, May 24, 2025.
This is the first time Illinois State will host the MVC Championships since 2019.Â
ON DECK
Following the weekend, the Redbirds return home to host Illinois on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 PM at Duffy Bass Field.
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on X (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:Â Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
