NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State baseball will play its final midweek game of the season when it hosts Eastern Illinois in a non-conference tilt Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 PM.
The Birds are coming off an impressive weekend showing, taking a series victory over the UIC Flames at home.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday at 5 PM |Â VIDEO | STATS | RADIO
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (26-19, 14-7 OVC)
Eastern Illinois is 26-19 this season, 14-7 in OVC play, and 16-16 on the road in 2025.
The Panthers have won eight of their last 10, with wins over Tennessee Tech, Butler, Illinois Wesleyan, Southern Indiana, Little Rock, and SIUE.
As a team, the Panthers lead the OVC with a .285 batting average, 77 hit by pitches, .403 on-base percentage, 350 runs, 65 sacrifice bunts, and 7.8 runs/game.
SERIES HISTORY
Eastern Illinois leads in the all-time series, holding an 92-86-1 margin.
The two programs met in Normal last May, as the Panthers took home a 5-3 win over the Redbirds.
PERRY GOING THE DISTANCE
In the series finale against UIC on May 11, senior Tanner Perry got the start for the Redbirds as the right-hander went a complete nine innings with two hits allowed, no runs, and seven strikeouts across 112 pitches thrown.
Perry became the first Redbird to throw a nine-inning complete game since he did so himself in March versus Western Illinois.
The right-hander also became the first Redbird pitcher to compile a nine-inning complete game shutout since teammate Tyrelle Chadwick did so in March 2024 (at Arkansas Pine-Bluff).
CEMENTING THEIR REDBIRD LEGACY
Illinois State junior Daniel Pacella and senior Joe Husak continue to lead the Redbirds at the plate and on the mound.
Pacella has recorded 53 RBIs this season, moving his career total to 170 RBIs at Illinois State for second all-time in ISU history.
Pacella also holds sole possession of second all-time in career HRs with 45.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Husak moved his career save total as a Redbird to 14 after closing the door against UIC on May 10.
Husak is second all-time for a Redbird in career saves.
ILLINOIS STATE TO HOST MVC TOURNAMENT
The 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships will take place from Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois.
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.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at goredbirds.com/tickets.
ON DECK
Illinois State concludes the regular season with a trip to Terre Haute, Indiana, for a three-game MVC weekend series against Indiana State on May 15-17.
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.
