McLean County Times

Illinois State University is gearing up for two nonconference baseball games this week. The Redbirds will face off against the Iowa Hawkeyes on April 29 in Iowa City, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The following day, they will play against Southern Indiana at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois, starting at 5 p.m.

The Iowa Hawkeyes, who have a record of 31-12 overall and 20-4 in the Big Ten, are currently on a four-game winning streak. They recently achieved victories over St. Thomas and completed a sweep against Indiana. Iowa's team batting average is .311, ranking 23rd nationally. Junior infielder Gable Mitchell is ranked within the top-150 nationally in seven offensive categories.

The Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, holding a record of 20-24 overall and 9-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), have won three of their last five games. They lead the OVC with a .312 batting average and have the league's top two hitters: junior Cole Kitchens (.382) and sophomore Parker Martin (.379). Southern Indiana’s pitching staff has a team ERA of 6.97 this year.

In past matchups, Illinois State leads Iowa with an all-time series record of 15-10. The Redbirds previously defeated Iowa 10-8 on March 25. The game against Southern Indiana marks only the third meeting between the two teams and their first since 1977.

Illinois State players Daniel Pacella and Joe Husak continue to make significant contributions to the team. With 48 RBIs this season, junior Pacella is approaching the second all-time position in career RBIs, needing just three more to claim it. He also ranks second in career home runs for Illinois State with 42. Senior Husak has accumulated 12 career saves, tying him for second place in the team's history.

Looking ahead, Illinois State will host the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championships at Duffy Bass Field later in May. This will be the first time since 2019 that the university will hold the event.

Following the midweek games, Illinois State will face Missouri Valley Conference leader Missouri State in a crucial three-game series from May 2-4.

For more updates on Illinois State Baseball, visit GoRedbirds.com or follow their social media channels.