McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds baseball team will host Murray State Racers for a three-game weekend series at Duffy Bass Field from March 28-30. The Redbirds are coming off back-to-back midweek performances, including a decisive 10-0 win over Iowa, highlighted by a standout batting performance from Daniel Contreras and effective pitching by Carter Monke. They also secured a 9-3 victory against SIUE.

Murray State enters this weekend with a 14-6 record, including a 1-2 mark in MVC play and holds a 5-1 record on the road. The Racers had a recent series against Evansville, where they lost two out of three games in MVC play. Historically, Minnesota State leads the series against Illinois State 9-6, and they emerged victorious in last year's meeting with a 15-12 win.

This Saturday's game will feature "Bark in the Park," inviting fans to bring their dogs to Duffy Bass Field. Online registration is available for pet owners.

In other news, freshman Brayden Bakes achieved a remarkable feat with three home runs in the series finale against Belmont on March 23. He is the first Redbird since Ryan Cermak in 2022 to hit three home runs in a single game.

The Illinois State Redbirds were recognized in preseason honors, ranking fourth in the Preseason MVC Coaches' Poll, with three players named to the MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. Seniors Judah Morris and Kyle Gibson, along with junior Daniel Pacella, received this recognition.

Additionally, Illinois State will host the 2025 MVC Championships from May 20-24 at Duffy Bass Field. This marks the first time since 2019 that Illinois State will host the MVC Championships.

Looking ahead, the team is set for a midweek game at Illinois on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 PM in Champaign.

For further updates on Illinois State Baseball, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com and follow the team's social media channels.