With the forecast set for partly sunny skies and 40 degrees, the Illinois State baseball team will brave the cold and wind tomorrow as the Redbirds travel northwest to Iowa City, Iowa, to face-off with the Hawkeyes of Iowa in a non-conference single game at 4 p.m. This is the first meeting between the two schools since 1996.
The conditions tomorrow will probably not be much different from today except for the fact that the sun is supposed to shine, Illinois State head coach Jeff Stewart said. If the wind dies down and it stays sunny and dry, we will be ready to play. It is not ideal surroundings and the low wind chills can prohibit a lot, but we hope to just get out and play.
Jon Peacock, Stewart and company go into tomorrows game against Iowa (6-7) riding the heels of a 5-4 win over Creighton last weekend. The 3-13 Birds took one-of-three from the Bluejays in the conference opener with Sundays series finale cancelled due to inclement weather.
Peacock is currently leading the team with a .429 batting average, six home runs and 15 RBI. The junior transfer has contributed to an explosive ISU offense this season which had 31 hits in three games against Creighton. Senior Ryan Cantrell has also been on a hitting streak, posting a season-high 13-game hit streak. He has recorded at least one hit in all but one game this year.
According to Stewart, ISUs hitting has really come around but it is the defensive struggles that continue to plague the Birds, especially in the late innings of games.
Our older guys ,mixed with two or three younger guys, have really contributed on a regular basis, Stewart said. We have proven we can out-slug a lot of teams but defensively, we have to hold those opponents so they dont do the same thing.
We have had defensive breakdowns this season, Stewart continued. Perking up the young guys so they contribute plus perfecting the little things, routine plays, is really what we need to focus on in game situations.
Dave MacDonald (0-1) will get the start for Illinois State on the mound against the Hawkeyes. The redshirt freshman is just one of a group of young players Stewart will be taking on the trip.
Getting the new guys out there against a good Division I school will only improve our team, Stewart said. Giving young pitchers and players a chance to compete will help prepare the whole team for whatever happens later on in the season. It is the experience that is necessary.
