The Illinois State Redbirds baseball team defeated the University of Illinois Fighting Illini 13-6 on Apr. 21 at Illinois Field in Champaign, marking their first season sweep over Illinois since 2010.
This victory is significant for the Redbirds as it highlights a resurgence in their performance against a long-standing rival and extends their winning streak in the series to three games, something not achieved since between 2002 and 2005. The team improved its overall record to 23-17 for the season.
The game saw a strong offensive showing from Illinois State, which collected a season-high of 19 hits. Six players recorded two or more hits, and all nine starters contributed at least one hit for only the second time this year. Sophomore Eric Machej led with his first four-RBI game and matched his career high in hits, while redshirt sophomore Brayden Bakes tallied four hits—including three doubles—to reach his twentieth multi-hit game of the year. Junior Ryan Bakes hit his ninth home run of the campaign during a key second-inning rally.
Illinois made efforts to close the gap but could not overcome early deficits established by consecutive innings of two-out rallies from the Redbirds. Former Fighting Illini pitcher Nolan Girard secured the final outs to ensure an Illinois State victory despite late pressure from Illinois in the ninth inning.
According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from resources such as the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund aimed at supporting competitiveness and recruitment efforts. The athletics program is linked to Illinois State University and competes in NCAA Division I events across various regions according to its official site. The OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center is utilized by student-athletes for preparation according to school sources. Fans can find news, schedules, rosters, and other resources through official channels designed to bolster community engagement around athletics as reported by GoRedbirds.com.
Looking ahead, this win positions Illinois State favorably as they continue Big Ten matchups throughout their schedule.
