McLean County Times

Illinois State's baseball team experienced a narrow loss against Southern Illinois University in their series finale on Sunday, with the game concluding at 5-4 in favor of the Salukis. This match took place in Carbondale, Illinois.

During the game, Illinois State achieved six hits and five walks. However, despite holding a lead for a significant part of the contest, they were unable to maintain it until the end. Southern Illinois improved their record to 30-13 overall, including 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Illinois State holds a 20-21 overall record with a 10-8 MVC record.

The scoring began with Southern Illinois hitting a solo home run in the first inning. In response, Illinois State took the lead by scoring three runs in the second inning and one in the fourth, with Graham Mastros hitting a solo home run. The Salukis made a comeback with two runs in the seventh inning and scored another two in the eighth, securing the victory.

Graham Mastros stood out among the Illinois State players with multiple hits. The team's 6-9 hitters contributed all four RBIs for their side. This series marks the first road series defeat against SIU for Illinois State since 2017.

Looking ahead, Illinois State is scheduled to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City on Tuesday evening at 6:05 PM.

For updates on the team and more information, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com, or follow the team’s social media platforms @RedbirdBaseball on X, isuredbirdbaseball on Instagram, and Illinois State Baseball on Facebook. Comprehensive details on tickets, merchandising, and other offerings are available through GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App.