ISU Redbirds Baseball

The transition from early spring to late spring is unpredictable, with stretches of hot and cold, rainy and dry. ISU Redbirds Baseball's start of the season can be characterized like that, too. ISU began the season on a five-game losing streak and compiled a 3-10 record on the road in their first thirteen games. On the other hand, in that same stretch, the Redbirds defeated the 25th-ranked Pokes at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater, OK, by a score of 12-6. After the three-game series at Oklahoma State, the Birds played a four-game series against Western IL, with the first two games in Macomb. ISU won the first game and lost the second game, then traveled home to Normal for the remaining two games.

The Redbirds won their home opener and ran it back the same day for a series victory. On March 18th, the Birds had a 12-5 lead going into the 6th inning but eventually lost in 11 innings 14-12 to the Cougars of SIUE. The guys regrouped after the devastating home loss and have since been red hot. In the most recent sixteen games following the loss vs SIUE, the inhabitants of Duffy Bass Field are 12-4 winning series against Murray State (2-1), @ Valpo (2-1), and vs Evansville (3-0). It's also worth noting that Illinois State went 2-1 vs. the Big 10 in that stretch with a win at home vs. Iowa and a win at home vs. Illinois in 10-run rule fashion. Scoring runs has been essential in their four game-winning streak and success over lowa and Illinois. ISU scored 14 runs vs Illinois at home and a combined 38 runs in 3 games vs Evansville at Duffy Bass Field. Full stop, the Redbirds rake!

Eight players for ISU have a .290 batting average or better, including Daniel Pacella, who is currently batting .407 and has 10 home runs with 38 RBI. Pacella currently has 155 career RBI, which sits three behind 3rd all-time at Illinois State (Seth Von Behren). Judah Morris leads the team with 11 home runs and has a .319 batting average with 36 RBI. ISU holds a 9-3 record in MVC play, including a 5-1 record at home. In these 12 conference games, the Birds have a combined .333 batting average and .442 on-base percentage compared to opponents putting up a .273 batting average and .380 on-base percentage. Eight Redbirds are hitting .315 or better in Valley play, and ISU sits just one game behind Missouri State for first place in the conference standings. With twenty games left in the regular season, twelve will be home games, including three against the first-place Bears on May 2nd at 5 pm, May 3rd at 3 pm, and May 4th at 1 pm, all on ESPN+. The top two seeds get byes in the MVC tournament, a massive advantage in the quest for a title and tournament berth.

Another advantage is hosting the MVC Tournament, which, lucky for the Red and White, is the case with all MVC Tournament games being played at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, IL, from May 20th to May 24th. It would be special if the community, students and faculty, and alums could flock together and create a home-field advantage. ISU most recently went to the Tournament in 2019, advancing to the Regional Final and finishing with a 2-2 postseason record. That team had five players drafted in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. The Redbirds were regular season co-champions, Coach Holm was MVC Coach of the Year, Joe Aeilts won MVC Player of the Year, and Brent Headrick was the Pitcher of the Year. The 1994 and most recently 2010 baseball teams have won conference tournament championships, both playing in the NCAA Tournament. ISU has made the D1 tournament four times in total (1976,1994,2010,2019). The 2013 team had a record of 39-19 with a conference-best 16-5 MVC record. ISU would later fall to Wichita State in the MVC Title Game and did not receive an invitation to the Tournament, which I will go on record saying was nonsense. ISU also hosted the 2019 MVC Tournament but ultimately came up short after losing to Dallas Baptist and eventual champion Indiana State. Overall, I think we gain more from losing than winning, so from this recent experience, we should serve the university and baseball team by bringing our friends and family to Duffy Bass Field to cheer on the Redbirds to a championship and tournament appearance. Home-field advantage is critical and makes a big difference, especially with trophies on the line. We have phenomenal fans and an equally phenomenal opportunity to be seen and heard on the national sports scene.

Making the NCAA Tournament is the epitome of success and a sure way to bring in more money and exposure for ISU. It starts by showing up, and the baseball team, coaches, and staff have been doing their part. Let's show everyone in the Valley and College Baseball that excitement, support, and championships are NORMAL for the Birds! To the players, coaches, staff, students, and fans: keep finding ways to support the team, and be selfless and passionate every day to pursue greatness! Every game matters, and so does everything in between. 

Let's be ready so we don't have to get ready; RDB!!!