May 11, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
With just two series left for the Illinois State baseball team in Missouri Valley Conference play, each and every game is crucial. The Redbirds (18-28, 8-10 MVC) are flying high after a series win last weekend over league-leader Wichita State and will look to carry that momentum with them this weekend against the Missouri State Bears (24-20, 9-8 MVC) in Springfield, Mo.
The `Birds are just one game behind sixth-place Creighton for the final spot in the ConAgra Foods Missouri Valley Conference Tournament heading into the weekend. Missouri State sits in fifth place, but ISU is just a game and a half behind them in the standings, making this weekend very important for ISU head coach Jim Brownlee and his team.
"Last weekend's wins really got us back in the conference tournament hunt," said Brownlee. "Headed into this weekend, I think the players know how important the series is and know they have to put it all together to come away with another series win."
The Redbird players will have less to worry about this weekend with final exams and classes out of the way, which should help them concentrate solely on baseball. However, with finals throughout the week, the `Birds did not have a lot of time to build on the momentum from the Wichita State series in practice. Brownlee knows how difficult it is for the players to juggle school and baseball, but he's not worried about them being ready to play.
"We obviously couldn't get as much work done on the field this week as we would have liked, but it was important for the players to focus on school and finishing up the year well," said Brownlee. "Despite the lack of work, if our players stick with the mindset they had last weekend on the field and in the dugout against Wichita State, there should be no signs of a let down."
The series will begin with a 7 p.m. contest Friday night at Hammons Field, with freshman Ian Berger (5-4, 4.78 ERA) taking the hill for the Redbirds. Junior Kitt Kopach (3-7, 3.67 ERA) will pitch at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the second game of the series and freshman Jim Sajewich (1-5, 6.03 ERA) will start the 1 p.m. series finale on Sunday.
