McLean County Times

Illinois State Baseball is set to begin its 124th season this Friday with a four-game series against Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Redbirds, led by head coach Steve Holm, hold a 5-1 record in season openers under his leadership.

The upcoming games will take place from February 14 to February 16 at Nick Denes Field. Illinois State has historically performed well against Western Kentucky, leading the series 14-12. Their last meeting was in 2017 when Illinois State won two out of three games.

Looking back at the previous season, Illinois State finished with a record of 30-27. Head coach Steve Holm, entering his seventh season with the team, has guided them to four Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament appearances during his tenure. The team returns with a strong lineup including 20 players from last year and has welcomed eight freshmen and ten transfers for the new campaign.

Western Kentucky had a successful 2024 season as well, finishing with a record of 36-22 and securing their fourth appearance in the Conference USA Championships since joining the league. Under head coach Marc Rardin's guidance, now entering his third season, the Hilltoppers have been ranked third in the CUSA Preseason Poll.

Illinois State's schedule for the year includes matchups against teams that averaged 27 wins last season and features five NCAA regional qualifiers. Following their opening series against Western Kentucky, Illinois State will play SIUE before heading to Florida for games against Jacksonville.

Additionally, Illinois State will host the MVC Championships at Duffy Bass Field from May 20 to May 24.

For updates on Illinois State Baseball throughout the season, fans can follow GoRedbirds.com or connect through various social media platforms such as X (@RedbirdBaseball), Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).