TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A powerful offensive showing helped Illinois State baseball clinch two wins in the three-game weekend series against Indiana State to round out the 2025 season on Bob Warn Field.
Game One: ISU 11, INST 4
The Redbirds wasted no time in the first inning as Daniel Pacella kicked things off with a loud crack off the bat, crushing a two-run homer to right-center that gave Illinois State an early 2-0 advantage.
Early lead for the Redbirds@DanielPacella1 connects on HR no. 18 for a two-run shot to right center
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 15, 2025
T1 | ILS 2, INS 0 pic.twitter.com/vSXFcaItKW
In the same inning, Judah Morris went back-to-back with Pacella, keeping the momentum rolling with a solo blast of his own, pushing the Redbirds’ lead to 3-0.
Going back-to-back
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 15, 2025
Judah Morris connects on an 0-2 pitch for HR no. 17 of 2025
M1 | ILS 3, INS 0 pic.twitter.com/boJ9L9raHe
After giving up a two-run homer to Indiana State in the home half of the first, the Redbirds counterpunched in the second inning. Noah Smith ripped a double to left center that plated another run, making it 4-2.
ISU was not done, Pacella blasted his second home run of the game to add on another run in the second inning. In the third, Luke Stulga's home run and Daniel Contreras' RBI ground out continued ISU's offensive surge.
ICYMI: here's how ESPN+ saw the second HR by Pacella https://t.co/opgQQ2Pr5H pic.twitter.com/JT0vfp4x7E
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 16, 2025
In the fourth, Morris launched another long ball to left field, making it 10-2 Illinois State.
Left no doubt https://t.co/Hqyza0GpoQ pic.twitter.com/KwBwUO4aiZ
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 16, 2025
Josh Outlaw added one more insurance run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly to center field.
ISU Starter Tyrelle Chadwick was credited with the victory in the series opener, posting a line of five innings of work, allowing six hits, two earned runs and striking out one.
Game Two: INST 17, ISU 3
After bringing 11 runners across the plate in the series opener, the Redbirds struggled to find the same magic in game two.
Morris led off the game for ISU with his third home run of the series in a two-run shot to left-center field.
Easy as 1,2,3
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 16, 2025
Judah Morris with his third HR of the series to put the Birds ahead early pic.twitter.com/nNMbWXkZn7
Indiana State rallied for six runs in the first three innings, creating a four-run deficit for the Redbirds.
ISU picked up a gifted run in the fifth inning on a passed ball that allowed Smith to score, cutting the deficit to three.
However, Indiana State had other plans. Illinois State’s bullpen went on to give up 11 runs in the final two innings, sealing the deal for the Sycamores.
Tanner Perry was credited with the loss after working two innings, allowing five hits and striking out three batters.
Painting the corner 🎨🎨@tanner_perry4 with the K in the 2nd inning pic.twitter.com/l8tO2IedGi
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 16, 2025
Game Three: ISU 12, INST 1
A small ball got things rolling for Illinois State in the top of the first inning of the series finale with two singles from Morris and Brayden Bakes to score two runs for an early lead.
Trading places on the paths@BakesBrayden with the RBI single to right field for a 2-0 Redbird lead
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) May 17, 2025
T1 | ILS 2, INS 0 pic.twitter.com/gg3y1mGlbL
In the top of the fourth, Stulga added another home run to his weekend resume with a three-run blast to make it 5-1.
The fifth inning proved big for the Redbirds, starting with a solo shot from Pacella, which was his No. 20 home run of the season. The junior plated it on the first pitch of the inning.
An Outlaw ground out and Stulga single would bring home three more runs, extending the lead to eight.
Pacella stayed busy at the plate in the seventh, singling in another run to add on.
Bakes delivered the final punch in the seventh inning with an RBI single to score one last run.
Reliever Matthew Donnison earned the victory on the mound for the Redbirds following two innings of work, allowing three hits and one run.
The long ball was a main factor in this series win as the Redbirds tallied eight home runs.
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