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Saturday, February 21
Port Charlotte, Fla.
11 a.m.
Brown University
0-2
7
vs
9
Illinois State
5-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| Illinois St. | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 12 | 0 |
Photo by: Brown Athletics
Furious Rally Lifts Baseball Past Indiana State to Earn Saturday Split
2/21/2026 9:33:00 PM | Baseball
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A huge nine-run eighth inning for Brown baseball against Indiana State (2-4) lifted the Bears to a 16-12 victory for their first win of the season on Saturday evening at the Snowbird Baseball Classic. The Bears (1-2) fell short in a 9-7 loss to Illinois State (5-1) earlier in the day to round out the season-opening trip.
The win is the first at Brown for new skipper and Rhode Island native Frank Holbrook and comes against an Indiana State team that is just three years removed from a Super Regional appearance.
Game 1 vs. Illinois State
Illinois State outhit Brown 12-10 in game, while only five of the Redbirds runs were earned. Sophomore Matt Wilmarth threw 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts in his collegiate debut.
At the plate, Alex Benevento reached base three times with two runs and two RBIs, including a homer. Mark Henshon and Christian Butera both added two-run doubles.
After stranding two runners in scoring position in the first, the Bears struck first with a solo blast from Benevento leading off the second. The Redbirds responded with four runs of their own on three hits in the bottom of the inning, three of which were unearned.
Brown answered right back to tie the score in the top of the third, coming on an RBI double by Christian Butera, and an RBI single by Benevento.
Illinois State once again had an immediate answer in the bottom of the third, getting into the Bears bullpen and scoring twice on two hits and one error to retake the lead, 6-4.
The Bears pulled within one in the top of the sixth when Benevento led off with a walk and scored on a wild pitch.
The Redbirds came right back with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to retake control with a 9-5 lead. Brown was able to pull within 9-7 in the top of the eighth inning when Henshon sent a double inside the bag at third and down the line to score Brandon Chang and Miles Newsome, but that was as close as the Bears would get.
Game 2 vs. Indiana State
Mika Petersen had three hits and three RBIs in the nightcap. Matt Luigs and Henshon each added two hits and three RBIs. Cal McBurney and Brendan Chanley each had scoreless relief appearances in their collegiate debuts, and Brenden Kline picked up the win.
Once again, Brown jumped out to an early lead on a solo home run to center field by Henshon in the bottom of the first. However, the lead was short-lived as the Sycamores came back with four runs (two earned) on four hits in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to as much as 8-2 in the fourth before the Bears scored three times to cut it to 8-5 thanks to RBI hits from Brady Dever, Luigs and Petersen.
Trailing 10-5 in the sixth, Brown plated two runs on an RBI single by Henshon and bases loaded walk by Benevento.
Trailing 12-7 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Bears exploded for nine runs on five hits, five walks and two hit batters. Six of the runs scored before an out was recorded in the inning. The big highlights of the inning were a two-run game-tying single by Cam LaGrassa, a two-run go-head single by Luigs which proved to be the game-winning hit, and a two-run double by Petersen that pushed it to 15-11.
The Sycamores pushed across a run in the top of the ninth to bring the final to 16-12.
The Bears will return to action with a trip to Charleston Southern next weekend for a three-game series, starting on Friday, February 28 at 5 p.m.
Gallery: (2-21-2026) Baseball vs. Illinois St., Indiana St.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
The win is the first at Brown for new skipper and Rhode Island native Frank Holbrook and comes against an Indiana State team that is just three years removed from a Super Regional appearance.
Game 1 vs. Illinois State
Illinois State outhit Brown 12-10 in game, while only five of the Redbirds runs were earned. Sophomore Matt Wilmarth threw 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts in his collegiate debut.
At the plate, Alex Benevento reached base three times with two runs and two RBIs, including a homer. Mark Henshon and Christian Butera both added two-run doubles.
After stranding two runners in scoring position in the first, the Bears struck first with a solo blast from Benevento leading off the second. The Redbirds responded with four runs of their own on three hits in the bottom of the inning, three of which were unearned.
Brown answered right back to tie the score in the top of the third, coming on an RBI double by Christian Butera, and an RBI single by Benevento.
Illinois State once again had an immediate answer in the bottom of the third, getting into the Bears bullpen and scoring twice on two hits and one error to retake the lead, 6-4.
The Bears pulled within one in the top of the sixth when Benevento led off with a walk and scored on a wild pitch.
The Redbirds came right back with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to retake control with a 9-5 lead. Brown was able to pull within 9-7 in the top of the eighth inning when Henshon sent a double inside the bag at third and down the line to score Brandon Chang and Miles Newsome, but that was as close as the Bears would get.
Game 2 vs. Indiana State
Mika Petersen had three hits and three RBIs in the nightcap. Matt Luigs and Henshon each added two hits and three RBIs. Cal McBurney and Brendan Chanley each had scoreless relief appearances in their collegiate debuts, and Brenden Kline picked up the win.
Once again, Brown jumped out to an early lead on a solo home run to center field by Henshon in the bottom of the first. However, the lead was short-lived as the Sycamores came back with four runs (two earned) on four hits in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to as much as 8-2 in the fourth before the Bears scored three times to cut it to 8-5 thanks to RBI hits from Brady Dever, Luigs and Petersen.
Trailing 10-5 in the sixth, Brown plated two runs on an RBI single by Henshon and bases loaded walk by Benevento.
Trailing 12-7 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Bears exploded for nine runs on five hits, five walks and two hit batters. Six of the runs scored before an out was recorded in the inning. The big highlights of the inning were a two-run game-tying single by Cam LaGrassa, a two-run go-head single by Luigs which proved to be the game-winning hit, and a two-run double by Petersen that pushed it to 15-11.
LUIGS FOR THE LEAD! 💥
— Brown Baseball (@BrownU_Baseball) February 21, 2026
NINE RUNS in the 8th for Brown for the 16-11 lead heading to the ninth 😱 pic.twitter.com/n45iTgVEVA
The Sycamores pushed across a run in the top of the ninth to bring the final to 16-12.
The Bears will return to action with a trip to Charleston Southern next weekend for a three-game series, starting on Friday, February 28 at 5 p.m.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: L. Foley (2-0)
L: Berryman, Porter (0-1)
S: R. Clapp (2)
Batting:
2B: Luigs, Matt 1 ; Henshon, Mark 1 ; Butera, Christian 1 ; Newsome, Miles 1
HR: Benevento, Alex 1
RBI: Henshon, Mark 2 ; Butera, Christian 2 ; Benevento, Alex 2
SH: Petersen, Mika 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Henshon, Mark 1 ; Dillehay, DJ 1 ; Butera, Christian 1 ; Benevento, Alex 2 ; Newsome, Miles 1 ; Chang, Brandon 1
SB: Benevento, Alex 1 ; LaGrassa, Cam 1
CS: Luigs, Matt 1
HBP: Chang, Brandon 1
PO: Luigs, Matt 1
Batting:
2B: B. Bakes 2 ; G. Mastros 1
RBI: L. Stulga 1 ; B. Bakes 2 ; G. Mastros 1 ; P. McHarg 1 ; C. Karczewsk 1 ; K. Coakley 3
SH: P. McHarg 1
SF: L. Stulga 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Bakes 1 ; G. Mastros 2 ; E. Machej 3 ; P. McHarg 1 ; K. Coakley 1 ; J. Outlaw 1
SB: E. Machej 1
CS: E. Machej 1 ; C. Karczewsk 1
HBP: E. Machej 1 ; C. Karczewsk 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
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C
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RHP
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OF
/ BaseballINF
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RHP
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INF/OF
/ BaseballINF
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RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
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OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballBrown Bears Sports Report (4-16-2026)
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