Redbird Baseball Set to Battle Purple Aces
NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State is set to face Evansville this weekend in Normal. The Redbirds will play host to the Purple Aces at Duffy Bass Field in a three-game series.
Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday's game is slated for 3 p.m., with the series finale on Sunday set for 1:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
SCHEDULE
Friday at 5 p.m. | VIDEO | STATS | RADIO
Saturday at 3 p.m. | VIDEO | STATS | RADIO
Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (ESPNU) | VIDEO | STATS | RADIO
ABOUT THE EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES
The Purple Aces are 11-21 in 2025, including 7-17 on the road. The Purple Aces are 5-4 in MVC play this season with series wins over Murray State and Valparaiso.
The Redbirds and Purple Aces have met 136 times previously, with Illinois State leading, 71-64-1. Their first meeting was in 1948.
Illinois State found itself on the wrong side of the decision in all five games against Evansville in 2024, including twice during last year's MVC Championships.
GROWING THEIR REDBIRD LEGACY
Junior Daniel Pacella recorded career RBI no. 150 to help the Redbirds pick up a 14-4 victory over in-state foe, Illinois, on April 8 in eight innings.
With his four RBIs against the Illini, Pacella moves his career total to 153 RBIs as a Redbird, the fourth most in program history.
Pacella also sits third all-time with 38 career home runs, three behind Frank Mustari (1985-87) who finished his Redbird career with 41 home runs.
On the mound, senior Joe Husak has recorded 10 career saves at ILS, tying him for fourth all-time in program history. He is tied with Jeremy Rhoades (2012-14) and can move into the top-two with two more saves this season.
WIN NO. 150
Illinois State head coach Steve Holm picked up career win no. 150 on April 5 as part of a 18-3 win over Valparaiso.
Pacella led the Redbird bats, going 2-for-4 on the day with five RBIs and a home run.
The Redbirds also saw multiple hits from senior Kyle Gibson, freshman Brayden Bakes, senior Daniel Contreras, and senior Noah Smith.
AMONG THE VALLEY BEST
As of April 10, Illinois State sits third in team batting average (.298), fourth in team ERA (6.17), and fourth in team fielding percentage (.973).
Meanwhile, individually, Daniel Pacella leads the Missouri Valley Conference in the following categories:
- batting average (1st - .407)
- slugging percentage (1st - .780)
- OPS (1st – 1.260)
ILLINOIS STATE TO HOST MVC TOURNAMENT
The 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships will take place from Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois.
The eight-team tournament opens on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and is scheduled to run through Saturday, May 24, 2025.
This is the first time Illinois State will host the MVC Championships since 2019.
ON DECK
Illinois State is scheduled to head to Peoria to start a three-game series with Bradley on Friday, April 18 at 11 AM from Dozer Park.
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on X (@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 Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
Players Mentioned
- C
- 5' 11"
- Senior
- R/R
- RHP
- 6' 1"
- Senior
- R/R
- OF
- 6' 4"
- Junior
- L/L
- INF
- 6' 1"
- Senior
- R/R
- INF
- 5' 11"
- Senior
- L/R
- OF
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
- L/R
Players Mentioned
- 5' 11"
- Senior
- R/R
- C
- 6' 1"
- Senior
- R/R
- RHP
- 6' 4"
- Junior
- L/L
- OF
- 6' 1"
- Senior
- R/R
- INF
- 5' 11"
- Senior
- L/R
- INF
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
- L/R
- OF
Latest Men's Baseball News
- Illinois State Falls, 6-5, to Open Series vs BradleyThe Illinois State baseball team kept it close, but would never lead, as the Redbirds dropped the series opener to Bradley by a final of 6-5 on Friday at Duffy Bass Field.
- Shai Robinson Tabbed to Brooks Wallace Award Watch ListIllinois State junior Shai Robinson has been named to the 2025 Watch List for the Brooks Wallace Award, which was released Friday by the College Baseball Foundation.
- Redbird Baseball Series vs. Bradley AdjustedDue to expected inclement rain and storms in the area on Sunday and conflicting schedules, this weekend's baseball series between Illinois State and Bradley has been adjusted.
- Illinois State Primed for MVC Series Against BravesIllinois State baseball will look to win its fifth MVC series this season, as the program shifts their focus towards a three-game series against the Bradley Braves.
- Pacella Earns MVC Player of The Week HonorsFollowing a stellar four-game stretch, junior Daniel Pacella was awarded MVC Player of the Week honors as announced by the league office Monday.
- Redbirds Sweep Aces on ESPNUThe Illinois State baseball team recorded a run-rule 14-4 victory over Evansville (11-24 overall, 5-7 MVC) in eight innings on nationally televised ESPNU at Duffy Bass Field on Sunday.
