NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball program earned a 4-1 victory over in-state rival Illinois Tuesday evening at Duffy Bass Field. With the win, the Redbirds improve to 19-10 overall in 2026.
The Redbirds secured the victory after five hours and 25 minutes, which was the longest contest of the 2026 season, due to a pair of lightning delays that combined for nearly three hours.
As inclement weather loomed over Normal, Ill., pitching from both staffs excelled early as each offense was limited to two hits in the opening five innings in the contest. In the top of the fifth, Illinois looked to open scoring in the contest following a leadoff triple to begin the frame. With a runner on third, Redshirt Sophomore Carson Cormier retired the next three batters to maintain the 0-0 score before lightning struck, forcing the contest into its first delay.
Following a nearly two-hour break, the Fighting Illini worked a runner into scoring position to begin the sixth inning after a walk and a wild pitch. With a runner on second, Illinois opened scoring in the contest as a sacrifice bunt attempt led to a Redbird error to make the score 1-0.
Despite the deficit, the Redbirds brought the thunder in the home half of the sixth as Graduate Camden Karczewski opened the frame with a leadoff single, as Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes followed with a walk to put a pair of runners on base for Illinois State. With two runners on, Junior Graham Mastros delivered the Redbirds' first runs in the contest with an RBI double to even the score at 1-1. Moments later, Junior Luke Stulga scored two on a triple to give Illinois State a 3-1 lead.
In the seventh, Junior Michael Carrano Jr. led off the inning with a double to put a runner in scoring position to open the frame. Junior John Shuey made his Illinois State debut, pinch running for Carrano Jr. later in the inning and scored his first run as a Redbird to make the score 4-1 following a sacrifice fly from Mastros.
With the lead in hand, Junior Jacob Culp, Senior Shuto Tiger Okumura, and Graduate Reece Clapp combined for three no-hit innings with a pair of strikeouts to secure the Redbird victory.
NOTES
- With the victory, Illinois State has achieved back-to-back wins and consecutive victories at Duffy Bass Field over Illinois in their last two meetings, marking the first time since the Redbirds won in 2019 and 2022.
- The win marks the first time since 2002-03 that the Redbirds have earned victories in consecutive years over the Fighting Illini.
- Redshirt Sophomore Carson Cormier tallied his second consecutive appearance with five or more innings pitched and at least five strikeouts. In the outing, Cormier limited the Fighting Illini to two hits and no runs, which is the fewest this season for the Westford, Mass. native.
- Graduate Camden Karczewski recorded his 12th multi-hit contest of the season with a pair of hits in the contest.
- Junior Luke Stulga tallied his fourth triple of the season in the victory. Stulga's total leads all Redbirds and ranks tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference.
- With two RBIs in the win, Junior Graham Mastros tallied his 32nd run batted in this season, which leads all MVC hitters.
- Mastros' double in the sixth inning marks the third time this season that the Northfield, Ill. native has tallied a double in back-to-back contests.
- With 11 doubles this season, Mastros sits as one of three MVC hitters with a double-digit doubles, and ranks tied for first alongside teammate Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes with 20 extra-base hits across the campaign.
- Junior John Shuey made his debut as a Redbird, entering the contest as a pinch runner. Shuey later scored his first run of the season in the seventh inning.
- The Redbirds limited Illinois to three hits, marking the fewest Illinois State has allowed in a contest this season.
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