The Illinois State baseball team was edged by Valparaiso, 7-6, on Thursday at Emory G. Bauer Field as the Redbirds allowed three runs in the 8th inning.

Illinois State (18-30 overall, 7-18 Missouri Valley Conference) has been eliminated with from qualifying for the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. The Redbirds could have qualified with a sweep of Valpo or taking two of three and Bradley sweeping Belmont.

Belmont blanked Bradley Thursday night 4-0. 

The Redbirds were led by freshmen Luke Lawrence and Daniel Pacella with Lawrence reaching base four times and scoring three times while Pacella homered and tallied four RBIs. junior Elijah Dale recorded 11 strikeouts in relief.

Pacella smacked a two-run homer in the 4th inning. 

Pacella added a two-RBI double in the 6th inning to regain the lead for Illinois State.

In the 7th inning, Lawrence tallied an RBI ground-rule double just inside the left field line before junior Auggie Rasmussen went off the center field wall for an RBI triple.

Valparaiso (20-23 overall, 10-15 MVC) secured a spot in the MVC Tournament.

Illinois State is scheduled to play Valparaiso Friday (1:00 p.m. CT) and Saturday (1:00 p.m. CT).