The Illinois State Redbirds stormed to an emphatic 12-1 victory over the UMass Lowell River Hawks in their first-ever meeting, lighting up the Snowbird Classic at Centennial Park in Port Charlotte, Florida, on Friday, February 20, 2026. With this win, Illinois State improves to a sparkling 4-1 record to start the season, marking the best five-game opening under eighth-year head coach Steve Holm. UMass Lowell, meanwhile, drops to 1-3 as they continue to search for early-season momentum.
Right from the opening pitch, the Redbirds wasted no time establishing their presence. Junior Luke Stulga put Illinois State on the board in the top of the first, scoring on a wild pitch. That early run set the tone, but the River Hawks showed some life in the bottom of the second. After senior Carlos Martinez ripped a leadoff double, followed by graduate student Jorge Burgos and junior Ryan Strand both getting plunked by pitches, UMass Lowell loaded the bases with no outs. However, Redbirds starter Thomas Harper coolly induced a ground ball double play, escaping the jam unscathed and keeping his team ahead 1-0.
In the third inning, the Redbirds’ offense really started humming. Redshirt sophomore Brayden Bakes, who reached base in all five of his plate appearances, blasted his first home run of the season—a two-run shot that stretched the lead to 3-0. Bakes finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, notching his first three-hit game of the year and the seventh of his collegiate career. "I just wanted to stay patient and get a good pitch to hit," Bakes said after the game, clearly pleased with his performance.
Illinois State struck again in the fourth. Senior Josh Outlaw came around to score on Stulga’s RBI single, pushing the advantage to 4-0. The River Hawks responded in the bottom half, as freshman Cal Chance delivered his first career RBI to drive in Burgos, trimming the deficit to 4-1. It was the lone bright spot for UMass Lowell’s offense, with Chance finishing the day with one hit and one RBI. "The game got away from us in the sixth," admitted UMass Lowell Head Coach Nick Barese. "I thought Mucciarone pitched well enough to give us a shot. We weren't sharp enough defensively, and when we're 0-9 with RISP, it's hard to stay in it."
Indeed, junior Alfred Mucciarone kept the River Hawks in contention through five innings, scattering hits and recording three strikeouts. But Illinois State’s bats came alive in the sixth, capitalizing on defensive miscues. After loading the bases with three walks, the Redbirds seized on a fielding error, clearing the bases and ballooning the lead to 7-1. Junior Graham Mastros and sophomore Eric Machej followed up with RBI singles, and Machej later scored on a wild pitch, making it 10-1. By that point, the game had tilted heavily in favor of Illinois State.
On the mound, Redbirds starter Thomas Harper was steady, allowing just three hits and adding four strikeouts before handing the ball to junior Michael Addari in the fourth inning. Addari was sensational in relief, tossing four shutout innings and recording a career-high five strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Harper, meanwhile, has now allowed just two runs across his first two starts of 2026—a personal best for any two-game stretch in which he’s pitched at least four innings.
UMass Lowell’s bullpen tried to stem the tide, with freshman Christopher Klueber striking out three over two innings of work. Yet the Redbirds wouldn’t be denied. In the eighth, Mastros launched his fourth home run of the young season—matching his career best for a single campaign just five games in. Junior Michael Carrano, a recent addition to the roster, celebrated his first hit as a Redbird and at the Division I level with a ringing double in the same inning. Sophomore Louis Bussard capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, pushing the tally to 12-1.
For Illinois State, the offensive outburst matched their season-best total from the opener against SEMO on February 13. The Redbirds’ lineup was relentless: Stulga notched his second two-hit game of the season and the 13th of his career, while Mastros collected a pair of hits, continuing his hot start. Junior Hunter Stencil also made his Redbirds debut, entering defensively in the seventh inning and adding to the celebratory mood in the dugout.
On the other side, UMass Lowell’s offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Senior Joseph DeLanzo and Carlos Martinez each contributed a double, but the River Hawks couldn’t string together the hits they needed. Burgos’ run in the fourth was their only breakthrough, and the team will surely look to sharpen their situational hitting moving forward.
This contest also marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs—a milestone Illinois State will remember fondly as they came away with a convincing win. The Redbirds’ 4-1 start is their best under Coach Holm, and the team’s confidence is clearly growing with each passing game. "We're playing with a lot of energy right now," Holm said, reflecting on the team's early success. "But it’s a long season, and we know there’s still plenty of work to do."
For UMass Lowell, Head Coach Nick Barese and his squad will have to regroup quickly, as they’re set to face Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Centennial Park. With the Snowbird Classic in full swing, the River Hawks will be eager to bounce back and get their season back on track.
Fans of Illinois State can keep up with the Redbirds’ progress on GoRedbirds.com, and follow the team on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for the latest updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content. The Redbirds’ strong start has certainly caught attention, and if their early form is any indication, this could be a season to remember in Normal, Illinois.
As the dust settles on a lopsided but instructive afternoon in Port Charlotte, Illinois State’s bats and bullpen have sent a message: the Redbirds are flying high, and the rest of the Snowbird Classic field would be wise to take notice. UMass Lowell, meanwhile, will look to learn from their mistakes and come back swinging in their next outing.