Redbirds Travel to Face Missouri State for MVC Series

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds will look to make it three straight series wins over the weekend, as the squad travels to Springfield, Missouri, to take on the Missouri State Bears.

Game 1 | Friday, April 20 | 6:30 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+ ($)
Live Audio: KBFL Springfield
Live Stats: Missouri State Sidearm Live Stats
Illinois State Starting Pitcher: Brent Headerick, LHP, 1-5, 6.70 ERA
Indiana State Starting Pitcher: Dylan Coleman, RPH, 5-2, 3.53 ERA

Game 2 | Saturday, April 21 | Noon
Live Video: None
Live Audio: KBFL Springfield
Live Stats: Missouri State Sidearm Live Stats
Illinois State Starting Pitcher: Brady Huffman, RHP, 1-3, 4.15 ERA
Indiana State Starting Pitcher: TBA

Game 3 | Saturday, April 21 | 4 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+ ($)
Live Audio: KBFL Springfield
Live Stats: Missouri State Sidearm Live Stats
Illinois State Starting Pitcher: TBA
Indiana State Starting Pitcher: TBA

SCOUTING THE BEARS

Missouri State comes into the game in the middle of a four-game losing skid, with all of the teams being ranked inside of the top-28. The Bears fell to No. 28 Missouri 8-6, and dropped two games against No. 7 Oregon State 17-6 and 10-2. On Tuesday the team fell 11-7 at No. 3 Arkansas.

Leading the team's batters is Drew Millas who is hitting .336 with two home runs, two triples, seven doubles, and a team-high 37 RBI's. Hunter Steinmetz bats .305 with a team-high 31 runs scored. Jeremy Eierman is just off of the .300 plateau at .299, while leading the team with 14 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and tied for the team lead with five home runs.

Leading the pitching staff has been Dylan Coleman, who is 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA. He has struck out 68 batters over his 58.2 innings of work, while walking 26 batters. Logan Wiley is 4-3 out of the bullpen with a 4.01 ERA. he has struck out 43 batters over 42.2 innings of work. Ty Bucker has started all nine of his appearances, and has a 3-3 record and a 4.57 ERA.

SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS

Illinois State has dropped each of its last two games after taking two games of a three-game series over the Indiana State Sycamores.

Shortstop Owen Miller bats .356 with a team-high 31 runs scored and six stolen bases. John Rave is batting .350 with a team-high six home runs and 34 RBI's, while scoring 30 times. Collin Braithwaite has a team-best 14 doubles while driving in 30 runs and scoring 25 times. 

The pitching staff is led by Brady Huffman who has 46 strikeouts in 52 innings of work. He has a 1-3 record and a 4.15 ERA in 11 appearances and nine starts. Brent Headrick has 37 strikeouts in 45.2 innings. Both Colton Johnson and Jeff Lindgren have two wins out of the bullpen this season.