The Illinois State baseball team began its 2026 season with a doubleheader sweep against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Redbirds secured victories of 12-1 in seven innings and 7-6.
In the first game, Illinois State hit five home runs to achieve a 12-1 win. This is the most home runs the team has recorded in a single game since their 11-4 win over Indiana State on May 15. Under head coach Steve Holm, now in his eighth year, the Redbirds have started their seasons with a 6-2 record in opening games. The margin of victory was the largest for an opening day since their 13-2 win over Austin Peay in 2023.
Junior Graham Mastros hit three home runs and collected five RBIs, both career highs. Mastros became the first Redbird to record three home runs in a game since teammate Brayden Bakes did so last season. Starting pitcher Thomas Harper allowed only one run over five innings and struck out three batters. Reliever Michael Addari pitched two scoreless innings and also struck out three.
Illinois State took an early lead with Ryan Bakes hitting a solo home run in his first at-bat as a Redbird. Additional contributions came from Camden Karczewski, Kannon Coakley, Josh Outlaw, Luke Stulga, and Eric Machej as the team built its lead throughout the game.
In the second game, Illinois State won 7-6 to start its season 2-0 for the first time since 2023 and for the third time during Holm’s tenure. Junior Luke Stulga went four-for-five with two triples, marking his first four-hit performance and becoming the first Redbird since Chad Hinshaw in 2012 to hit two triples in one game. Sophomore Eric Machej had three hits including his first career home run.
Sophomore Carson Cormier earned his first win as a Redbird by pitching four innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts. The Redbirds built leads through contributions from Stulga, Machej, Karczewski, Brayden Bakes, and Mastros. Graduate transfer Reece Clapp recorded his first save by securing two strikeouts with SEMO threatening late in the ninth inning.
Illinois State University’s athletic programs benefit from resources such as the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund, which supports competitiveness and recruitment efforts. Student-athletes use facilities like the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for preparation and development. The university’s teams compete across various NCAA Division I events regionally.
Further information about Illinois State Redbirds news, schedules, rosters, fan resources, tickets, and more can be found on their official website. The site also offers updates via social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
For continued coverage of Illinois State Baseball’s season developments or other athletics updates linked to Illinois State University, fans are encouraged to follow official channels online.
