Last May, the Illinois State baseball program participated in BaseBald Day, which consisted of an inaugural head-shaving event following the day’s game in support of childhood cancer research. Leading up to the event, donations were taken online in hopes of reaching the team’s goal of $5,000, but in the end the squad exceeded its goal and raised $7,000.

Everybody knows that football is a contact sport. But do people really understand how big of an effect that contact has on players?

In the fourth contest of a 13-game home stand, Illinois State baseball hosted in-state foe, Northern Illinois Tuesday night at Duffy Bass Field in a 9-3 victory for the Redbirds (15-15). It was the third victory in the last four games for ISU.

Illinois State softball traveled to Depaul to face the Blue Demons on Tuesday at Cacciatore Stadium. The Redbirds overcame some errors and defeated the Blue Demons 5-4, who came into the game on a seven-game winning streak. Tuesday evening’s victory brings the ’Birds to a season-best of three games of above .500.

My two favorite moments in sports this past weekend came from two individuals. One is 6 foot 2 inches, the other is a little over half that. One is a collegiate athlete on scholarship, the other is not. One was watching from the sidelines, the other was having a once-in-a-lifetime moment.