McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team began their series against Bradley with a narrow defeat, losing 6-5 at Duffy Bass Field. Despite strong efforts, the Redbirds never managed to take the lead.

The Redbirds managed to tie the game in the seventh inning with home runs from Graham Mastros, a sophomore, and Daniel Pacella, a junior. However, Bradley ultimately secured their victory with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning.

Among the top hitters for Illinois State were Graham Mastros, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs, and Daniel Pacella, who went 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Josh Outlaw contributed with a 2-for-3 performance, adding an RBI and a run.

On the pitching side, Thomas Harper pitched for three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. Tresdon Rybarczyk provided four innings with three hits and three earned runs. Matthew Donnison took the loss after pitching 0.2 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.

Bradley began the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning. They expanded their lead in the fifth inning with a passed ball and a two-run homer. Mastros and Pacella's home runs brought the game to a tie, before Outlaw's RBI single in the eighth gave Illinois State a brief lead. However, Bradley clinched their win with two solo homers in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Redbirds maintain an overall record of 18-17 and are particularly strong at home, holding a 9-3 record at Duffy Bass Field. Pacella's performance extended his streak of reaching base to 27 consecutive games.

The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday to conclude the series. The first pitch is set for 1 PM.

For more information on Illinois State Baseball, visit GoRedbirds.com or follow the team on social media platforms X, Instagram, and Facebook.

GoRedbirds.com provides comprehensive resources for Illinois State including ticket information, athletic fund gifts, multimedia, merchandise, photos, and more.