NORMAL — In his first team meeting back in August, first-year Illinois State baseball coach Steve Holm informed his team they would win the Missouri Valley Conference championship.
The Redbirds completed an unlikely voyage from a 22-30 record last season and a sixth place in the preseason MVC poll to conference co-champions with an 11-4 victory over Evansville in the regular season finale.
Earning its first MVC regular-season title since 2013, ISU shared the crown with Dallas Baptist at 14-7. The Redbirds (32-22 overall) are the No. 2 seed for the Valley Tournament next week at Duffy Bass Field and open play Wednesday at 3 p.