Redbirds Fall To Colonels Saturday Afternoon

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Illinois State baseball program fell to Eastern Kentucky 8-4, Saturday afternoon at Earle Combs Stadium in Richmond, Ky.  

Eastern Kentucky took an early lead after a sacrifice fly in the first inning to open the scoring at 1-0. Despite the early deficit, the Redbirds clawed back in the next frame after Junior Luke Stulga singled to drive in Graduate Camden Karczewski to even the score at 1-1. 

After Illinois State's response, the Colonels reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second after another sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. In the top of the third, the Redbirds struck back to retake the lead after a two-run home run by Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes to make the score 3-2.  

In the top of the fourth, Senior Josh Outlaw drove in another run for the Redbirds on a fielder's choice to push the Illinois State advantage to 4-2. Eastern Kentucky later responded in the bottom half with an RBI on a groundout to pull a run back to make the score 4-3.

After two scoreless frames, the Colonels tied the contest with an RBI single in the seventh to make the score 4-4. Later in the inning, Eastern Kentucky added four runs to reclaim the lead and hold an 8-4 advantage. The Colonels maintained their lead in the final two frames to secure the win. 

NOTES 

• Junior Michael Addari made his first career start in the contest. Addari matched his career-best longest outing with 5.0 innings pitched and added four strikeouts. 

• Addari has recorded four or more punchouts in his last three appearances. 

• With a third-inning two-run home run, Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes joins teammate Junior Graham Mastros to become the second Redbird this season to surpass five home runs this season. 

• Bakes moved his hitting streak to four games, a season-best streak so far in the 2026 season. 

• Bakes claimed his eighth multi-hit performance of the season with a 2-for-5 performance and has recorded an extra-base hit in three of the Redbirds' last four contests. 

• Mastros moved his hit streak to five games, setting a new season-best mark after a 3-for-3 performance. 

• Junior Luke Stulga extended his hitting streak to five games, which matches a season-best streak for the Tinley Park, Ill. native. 

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