Game Notes | Bo Durkac Show | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team will head to Terre Haute, Indiana, for its first Missouri Valley Conference away series as the Redbirds begin a three-game series with the Sycamores Friday at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium.
First pitch Friday is set for 5:30 p.m. CT, followed by a 1 p.m. start Saturday and a 12 p.m. finale Sunday.
Illinois State (8-23, 0-2 MVC) enters the series looking to snap a five-game losing streak. The Redbirds were topped in the first two games of a series against Dallas Baptist last weekend – by scores of 7-2 and 7-1, respectively – before last Sunday's series finale was rained out. Illinois State also dropped a midweek contest at Illinois Tuesday, 7-1.
Indiana State (21-12, 2-1) returns to action after taking two out of three games at Southern Illinois last weekend. After dropping the series opener, the Sycamores rallied to take the final two games and win the series.
Illinois State's lineup has been anchored by freshman shortstop Owen Miller (.301/.343/.489), who collected three hits in the loss at Illinois Tuesday. Head coach Bo Durkac will go with the weekend pitching rotation of Steve Heilenbach (3-1, 2.65 ERA), David Meade (2-2, 4.43) and Jacob Hendren (1-7, 7.99).
The Sycamores will counter with a rotation of Justin Hill (4-1, 4.04), Ryan Keaffaber (4-2, 2.66) and Tyler Ward (4-3, 2.92). Indiana State leads the Valley in team ERA (3.41) and Keaffaber was named the MVC Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
Indiana State is led, offensively, by infielder Kaden Moore (.360/.438/.488) and catcher Hunter Owen (.351/.430/.545). Both players have driven in 33 runs, tied for the fifth most in the Valley.
Indiana State has the edge in the all-time series with Illinois State, as the Sycamores have a 101-81 record against the Redbirds. Illinois State has played more games against Indiana State (182) than any other school, with the exception of Bradley (212). Indiana State took two of three from Illinois State in a three-game series at Duffy Bass Field last season, May 15-16, 2015.
Links for live audio and stats for this weekend's series can be found at GoRedbirds.com. Fans can also receive live updates from the games via Twitter, by following @RedbirdBaseball.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
