Gregory Street Tennis Courts | Illinois State University Athletics
Gregory Street Tennis Courts | Illinois State University Athletics
Illinois State University secured a decisive victory over Evansville in their series opener at Duffy Bass Field on Friday, prevailing 17-8. The Redbirds excelled with eight of the nine starting players contributing hits to their team effort.
Starting pitcher Thomas Harper achieved his third win of the season, settling his record at 3-1 for 2025. The victory also saw Illinois State improve their overall season record to 16-16, with a 7-3 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The game's standout performers included Daniel Contreras, who went 3-for-5 with a double and five RBIs. Graham Mastros contributed with a 3-for-6 performance, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Shai Robinson added two RBIs and scored twice with a 1-for-3 night.
Thomas Harper's pitching accounted for five innings with six hits, four earned runs, five walks, and two strikeouts. Tresdon Rybarczyk closed the game, hitting the mound for four innings, allowing five hits, four earned runs, two walks, and recording one strikeout.
The game saw a series of scoring exchanges. Brayden Bakes initiated the scoring for the Redbirds with a hit down the left field line in the first inning. Evansville quickly responded in the second inning, taking a brief 3-1 lead. Illinois State regained momentum in the bottom of the second by scoring four runs and an additional insurance run in the third. The Redbirds cemented their foothold with additional runs across subsequent innings, leading to their eventual win.
Throughout the game, Illinois State maintained control, increasing their lead to 17-6 by the sixth inning. Evansville managed to add two more runs, but Illinois State secured the victory with a final score of 17-8.
Daniel Contreras was particularly notable as he recorded his first 5+ RBI game of the season. Additionally, Daniel Pacella extended his streak of reaching base to 24 consecutive games, underscoring his consistent performance. This high-scoring performance marked the third instance this season in which Illinois State scored 10 or more runs in back-to-back games.
The series will continue on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3 PM at Duffy Bass Field. Further updates on Illinois State Baseball can be accessed through GoRedbirds.com and the team's presence on social media platforms.
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