EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball program captured a 9-5 victory over SIUE in a mid-week contest Tuesday afternoon at Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The Redbirds used a six-run ninth inning to move past the Cougars and captured Illinois State's third win of the season. The victory over SIUE marks back-to-back victories in the all-time series, as the Redbirds have secured wins in three of the last four contests against the Cougars.
The Redbirds' bullpen played a pivotal role in the victory as Junior Lucas Foley, Nolan Girard, and Graduate Reece Clapp combined for eight innings pitched and limited SIUE to just two runs. The trio also combined for 11 combined strikeouts and allowed one walk. After allowing three runs in the first innings, the Redbirds held SIUE to seven straight scoreless innings, including Girard retiring the first seven Cougar hitters he faced out of the bullpen.
Graduate Peyton McHarg led the way offensively for the Redbirds in the contest with a 2-for-4 performance, including his first career home run and RBI double. The two-hit is his first multi-hit game as a Redbird.
Senior Josh Outlaw joined McHarg with two hits, a pair of doubles, including a two-RBI double. Senior Kannon Coakley also added a 2-of-3 performance with a pair of singles for his first multi-hit game as a Redbird.
The Redbirds jumped to an early lead as Junior Ryan Bakes drove home his brother, Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes, on an RBI double to give Illinois State a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame. In the bottom half of the first inning, SIUE would respond with a three-run inning to claim a 3-1 lead.
Later in the contest, in the sixth inning, McHarg pulled a run back for the Redbirds, with a solo blast to make the score 3-2. McHarg's home run is the first at the Division I level of his career. Following back-to-back walks, including a hit-by-pitch from Senior Kannon Coakley, Senior Josh Outlaw tied the game with an RBI ground rule double as Graduate Camden Karczweski scored the tying run.
In the ninth, the Redbirds claimed their lead following a pair of walks and an RBI double from McHarg as Ryan Bakes scored to move the score to 4-3. Moments later, with the bases loaded, Sophomore transfer Louis Bussard recorded a two-RBI double in his first appearance as a Redbird to push Illinois State in front 6-3. Outlaw added a pair of runs with a double to extend the Redbirds' lead to 8-3, as Junior Luke Stulga notched a single to make the score 9-3. The Cougarrs added a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to make the score 9-5.
NOTES
- The Redbirds six run inning is the most scored in a single frame this season, and is the second five-run or more inning of the season.
- Illinois State's six-run inning is the most since the Redbirds scored six in one frame against Indiana State on May 20, 2025.
- Illinois State drew 13 walks in the contest, marking the most in a game since last season against the Cougars on March 26.
- Graduate Peyton McHarg's solo home run in the sixth inning was his first home run at Illinois State.
- Junior Ryan Bakes extended his hitting streak to four games and has recorded a base hit in all four contests.
- Senior Josh Outlaw tallied two doubles in the contest, marking the first time in his career that he has accomplished the feat.
- Senior Kannon Coakley added two singles for his first two-hit performance as a Redbird.
- Sophomore transfer Louis Bussard recorded his first hit and RBIs as a Redbird with a two-RBI double in the ninth inning. Bussard made his first appearance in Illinois State, entering as a pinch hitter.
- Graduate Reece Clapp secured his first win as Redbird after entering the contest in the eighth inning. Clapp tallied three strikeouts on his path to earning the victory.
- Junior Michael Carrano made his debut as a Redbird, entering the contest as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.
