Pacella Hits Milestone 150th RBI in Win over Illinois
NORMAL, Ill. – Junior Daniel Pacella recorded four RBIs, including career RBI no. 150, as Illinois State baseball defeated Illinois on Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field with a 14-4 final score in eight innings.
With four RBIs on Tuesday, Pacella moves his career total to 153 RBIs as a Redbird, the fourth most in program history.
Freshman Brayden Bakes, sophomore Graham Mastros, and sophomore Luke Stulga would also finish the night with a pair of RBIs, respectively.
Senior MacCallan Conklin provided 1.1 scoreless innings in relief to get the win.
Top Hitters:
- Daniel Pacella: 4-for-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI
- Brayden Bakes: 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
- Graham Mastros: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
- Ryan Weaver: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's
- MacCallan Conklin (W, 2-0): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's
- Tanner Perry: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB
- Joe Husak: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
- Braden Roesch: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB
Scoring Breakdown:
- Pacella got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st with an RBI single for RBI no. 150 of his Redbird career
- Bakes would score two off an RBI double in the 1st before Mastros added a sac fly for a 4-0 lead.
- Illinois got on the board in the 3rd with an RBI single
- The Redbirds added on six runs in the 3rd with RBI doubles by Judah Morris, Josh Outlaw, and Luke Stulga. ILS also scored in the inning off an RBI single from Mastros and bases loaded walk by Pacella.
- The Illini would score three in the top of the 4th with a sac fly, RBI groundout, and RBI triple to make it 10-4.
- An RBI single by Daniel Contreras and sac fly from Stulga saw the score read 12-4 after four innings.
- The Redbirds would walk it off in the 8th with a two-run double by Pacella to end the game via run-rule, 14-4.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Pacella records his first four-RBI game this season, as he now sits with 36 RBIs in 2025
- ILS totaled a season best 19 hits, including a season high six doubles
- Tuesday marks the first home win over Illinois since April 2022
UP NEXT
Illinois State welcomes Evansville to Normal for a three-game MVC weekend on April 11-13 from Duffy Bass Field.
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.
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.