The hard-hitting, offensive powerhouse called the Illinois State baseball team will be challenged by the Bears of Southwest Missouri State this weekend, owners of the best overall record in the Valley, when the teams square off in a four-game series at Price Cutter Park in Springfield, Mo. Friday nights series opener begins at 7 p.m.
With a two-game win streak on their side, the Redbirds (4-12, 1-2) will look to continue their winning track after defeating Creighton last Saturday, 5-4, and Iowa on Tuesday, 14-6. Illinois State pounded out a season-high 21 hits against the Hawkeyes with every starter on the team slipping one past the defense for a base hit.
SMS (11-3) opens the Valley season against the Redbirds this weekend after defeating Arkansas State on Wednesday, marking their best start since 1995 with the win. The Bears bring a four-game win streak into this weekends competition.
Illinois States recent offensive surge has been powered by a Redbird team that keeps the hits coming. Jon Peacock leads ISU with a .429 batting average and currently ranks first on the team with 18 RBI and six home runs, leading the MVC in that category. He was 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI against Iowa while Mike Saunches and Greg Blaesing each had two RBI apiece.
Illinois State head coach Jeff Stewart is pleased with his teams efforts with the bat in the past few games and hopes it will continue in the weeks to come, continuing to strengthen the confidence of a young Redbird squad.
There is no question our confidence has gone up as an offensive team over the past three or four ball games, Stewart said. I dont think we can anticipate scoring like we did against Iowa on a day-to-day basis, but we certainly know the potential is there.
SMS and ISU split a four-game series last season at Redbird Field. The Saturday doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. with the series wrap-up at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
