McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team is set to host UIC for a three-game series at Duffy Bass Field, marking the final home weekend of their 2025 season. The series kicks off on Friday with games scheduled for 5 PM, Saturday at 3 PM, and Sunday at 1 PM.

UIC enters the series with a record of 16-29 overall and 12-9 in Missouri Valley Conference play. They have shown strong performance recently by winning five out of their last six MVC games against Bradley and Valparaiso, outscoring them 36-14 over the past two weekends.

Historically, Illinois State has dominated the matchups between these teams, leading the all-time series with a margin of 31-16. In their last encounter in Chicago, Illinois State secured a series win by taking two out of three games against UIC. Notably, Daniel Pacella played a key role in that victory with a standout performance.

Pacella continues to be a pivotal player for Illinois State this season. With 52 RBIs this year alone, he has increased his career total to 169 RBIs, placing him second all-time in ISU history. He also ranks second all-time for career home runs with 43.

On the pitching side, senior Joe Husak has been impressive as well. He recently recorded his 13th career save as a Redbird, which also places him second all-time for saves at Illinois State.

Looking ahead, Duffy Bass Field will also be the venue for the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Championships from May 20 through May 24. This marks the first time since 2019 that Illinois State will host this event.

Illinois State's final home game of the season is scheduled against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field with a first pitch set for 5 PM on May 13.

For more updates on Illinois State Baseball and ticket information, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com or follow the team on social media platforms including X (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball).