McLean County Times

The Illinois State baseball team faced elimination in the 2025 MVC Championship after losing two games on Thursday. The Redbirds were defeated by Missouri State and Belmont, concluding their tournament run at Duffy Bass Field.

In the first game against Missouri State, the Redbirds fell 7-2. Missouri State gained a substantial lead with two RBI singles, a two-run home run, and a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Illinois State managed to score twice later in the game with Shai Robinson bringing Brayden Bakes home in the eighth inning and Bakes himself adding another RBI single in the ninth.

Illinois State's historical record against Missouri State now stands at 51-73. Noah Smith led his team with three hits, but they left 14 runners stranded on base.

In their second game of the day against Belmont, Illinois State was again unable to secure a win, losing 7-3. Belmont took an early lead with a two-run home run and an RBI single within the first three innings. They extended their advantage with additional runs throughout the game.

Noah Smith contributed an RBI single for Illinois State’s first run in the fifth inning and later hit a solo home run in the eighth. Daniel Contreras added another run with a sacrifice fly that scored Judah Morris.

With this loss, Illinois State’s all-time record against Belmont is now even at 14-14. Despite these setbacks, Smith recorded his third home run of 2025 during this match.

For more updates on Illinois State Baseball, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms like X and Instagram under @RedbirdBaseball or Facebook at Illinois State Baseball.