McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team is set to travel to Evanston, Illinois, for a matchup against Northwestern University on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The game will take place at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.

Illinois State comes into this game after a series in Oklahoma where they recorded one win and three losses. Their victory came against the then-25th ranked Oklahoma State on Friday. Head coach Steve Holm noted that this was the ninth top-25 win under his leadership.

Northwestern enters the game with a 7-7 record following a weekend split at The Citadel. Under first-year head coach Ben Greenspan, the Wildcats finished last season with an 18-34 record. The team returns most of its lineup from 2024, maintaining over 75% of its offensive stats such as hits and runs.

Key players for Northwestern include Jackson Freeman, Bennett Markinson, and Owen McElfatrick, all named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List for 2025.

Illinois State's recent performance saw standout contributions from Judah Morris and Thomas Harper during their victory over Oklahoma State. Morris went 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Harper secured his first career save by pitching scoreless innings.

Earlier in the season, Illinois State achieved an impressive midweek win against Ball State with senior Kyle Gibson leading the offense. Gibson had a notable day with four hits, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.

Looking ahead, Illinois State will host the Missouri Valley Conference Championships from May 20 to May 24 at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois. This marks their first time hosting since 2019.

Following their game against Northwestern, Illinois State will begin a four-game series against Western Illinois starting Thursday in Macomb.

For updates on Illinois State Baseball activities and games, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms like X (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball).