McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team is preparing to face Southern Illinois in a weekend series at Duffy Bass Field from May 3 to May 5. The games are scheduled for Friday at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Coverage will be available on ESPN+ and local radio.

Southern Illinois, known as the Salukis, finished their 2023 season with a record of 30-27, including a conference record of 15-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). In the current season, they hold a record of 26-19 overall and are evenly split in MVC play with nine wins and nine losses.

Illinois State leads the historical matchup against Southern Illinois with a record of 100-96-1 since their first meeting in 1948. Their last encounter was in April 2023 when Illinois State secured a victory after extra innings.

A special event titled "Bark in the Park" will take place during Saturday's game, allowing fans to bring their dogs to Duffy Bass Field.

The Redbirds have shown strong defensive performance this season, ranking among the top five teams in the MVC for fielding percentage and double plays. Offensively, they also rank high in several categories including batting average and hits.

Sophomore Daniel Pacella has been notable for his recent performances. He hit a walk-off home run against Indiana State on April 19, marking the first such achievement for an ISU player since May 2010. Pacella also delivered two home runs in a single game against Missouri State on March 31.

Since 2004, there have been multiple instances where Redbird players have hit two home runs in one game. Among them is senior Auggie Rasmussen who achieved this feat earlier this year.

For more updates on Illinois State Baseball, visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.