McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team successfully swept Western Illinois in a doubleheader during their home opener at Duffy Bass Field. In the first game, the Redbirds triumphed over the Leathernecks with an 11-4 victory, followed by a commanding 10-0 win in the second game.

In the opening match, standout performances came from Kyle Gibson, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one walk; Daniel Pacella, who achieved a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and one walk; and Shai Robinson, who contributed a home run among his three hits. Pitcher Tanner Perry completed nine innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out six.

Key moments included Josh Outlaw's bunt driving in Graham Mastros for ISU's initial lead. Judah Morris regained momentum for ISU with his seventh home run of the season. Gibson continued to add to his RBI tally throughout the game, and Robinson sealed it with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

In game two, Pacella again impressed by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Robinson hit another home run as part of his strong performance. Luke Stulga also added power to ISU's lineup with a home run and double. Tyrelle Chadwick pitched seven innings without allowing any earned runs.

Robinson initiated scoring in game two with his second homer of the day. Additional contributions from Smith and Pacella helped build an early lead which was extended by Morris' RBI double and Mastros' single that brought home more runs.

Looking ahead, Illinois State is set to host SIUE on Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field at 5 PM, streamed on ESPN+. Updates can be found on GoRedbirds.com or through various social media platforms associated with Illinois State Baseball.