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Illinois State University Athletics

Josh Outlaw
Dayton Hammes
6
Winner Indiana St. INS 18-18
1
Illinois St. ILS 22-14
Winner
Indiana St. INS
18-18
6
Final
1
Illinois St. ILS
22-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Indiana St. INS 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 8 1
Illinois St. ILS 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1

W: Spencer Johnsen (1-0) L: Teschke, Luke (3-2) S: Colby Morse (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Sam Collins

Redbirds Drop Series Finale With Indiana State

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball program fell to Indiana State 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. With the defeat, the Redbirds drop to 22-14 overall and 6-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Indiana State struck first with a two-run home run to open scoring in the contest and take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Trailing early, the Redbirds pulled a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Graduate Camden Karczewski doubled down the left field line to score Senior Josh Outlaw to cut into the Sycamore lead and make the score 2-1.

Despite allowing the early two-run home run, Freshman Luke Teschke bounced back by tossing three straight scoreless innings and allowed one hit to maintain a one-run deficit for the Redbirds. 

In the sixth, the Sycamores grew their advantage to 3-1 with an RBI double after the first two batters for Indiana State reached on a walk and a single. The Sycamores later extended their lead on a groundout to move the score to 4-1.

The Redbirds looked to claw back in the seventh as back-to-back walks from Freshman Brayden Zilis and Graduate Payton McHarg walked to open the frame. With two runners on, Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes singled to load the bases for Illinois State. Despite the jam, the Sycamores capitalized off a inning ending double play to maintain its three run advantage.

In the top of the eighth, the Sycamores added a run off a solo home run to grow their lead to 5-1. Indiana State later tallied another run at the top of the ninth to move its advantage to 6-1.

Trailing entering the ninth, the Redbirds tried to rally once more after three walks loaded the bases for Illinois State. With pressure ramping late, Indiana State secured the final out to secure its 6-1 win Sunday afternoon.

NOTES

  • Senior Josh Outlaw matched a career-best three hits in the contest, including a double in the contest. Outlaw's three-hit performance is his first of the 2026 campaign and his second-career three-hit game against Indiana State.
  • With two hits, including a double, Ryan Bakes grew his reached base streak to 10 games. Bakes two-hit performance marks his ninth multi-hit performance of the season.
  • Sophomore Louis Bussard extended his hitting streak to a career-best six games with a base hit in the contest. Bussard becomes the sixth Rebird this season to tally a hit streak of six or more games.
  • Freshman Luke Teschke recorded his fourth straight start with at least 5.0 innings pitched and tallied his third contest with at least five strikeouts this season.

UP NEXT

The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field to host NIU in a midweek contest Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on X (formerly Twitter) (@RedbirdBaseball), and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos, and more.

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