March 20, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
NORMAL, Ill. -
After a successful spring trip to the state of Florida, junior Kevin Dubler and the Illinois State baseball team will look to continue to build momentum, as the Redbirds begin their Missouri Valley Conference slate. The Redbirds will open Valley play at home, hosting 2007 regular-season champion Wichita State in a three-game set beginning Friday at 3 p.m., at Duffy Bass Field. The first 100 fans to Friday's game will receive a 2008 Redbird baseball schedule poster.
Saturday's game, which begins at 2 p.m., is "Restaurant Day," where gift certificates to Bloomington/Normal restaurants will be given away every inning to those in attendance. Sunday's series finale is "Reggie's Kids Club Day," where club members will receive free admission and have the chance to run the bases after the game. Sunday is also "Lucky Egg Day" at Duffy Bass Field, and the fan who finds the lucky egg will win a prize, courtesy of Redbird Athletics.
The Redbirds enter Friday's game with a 9-5 record overall, and posted an impressive 6-2 record during the 10-day trip to the Sunshine State. Illinois State is currently on a five-game winning streak, as the `Birds won all of its games at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. Dubler has led the Redbirds through their first 14 games of the season, as he has posted team-highs in batting average (.421), hits (24, runs (17), doubles (seven) home runs (three) and RBI (15). Dubler has also made his mark on the Valley leader board, ranking fourth in batting average, fifth in hits, second in doubles and third in total bases (42).
The Redbirds will send junior Jim Sajewich (1-0, 4.91 ERA) to the mound Friday, after winning his first game of the season against Eastern Illinois (March 13) at the IMG Academy. Sajewich threw seven innings and allowed only one run on five hits, while he struck out five and walked two. Sophomore Ryan Copeland will get the start Saturday (2 p.m.), and leads the Redbirds with a 3-1 record and a 2.49 ERA. Copeland won his last start, an 8-7 win over Akron in Bradenton. Copeland threw 6.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, while he fanned three batters.
The reigning MVC Pitcher of the Week, freshman Corey Maines, will start the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m. Maines was dominant in his last start, going the distance in ISU's 2-1 win over Lafayette College March 15. In only his second career start, Maines threw 9.0 innings and surrendered only one run on five hits, while striking out a career-high five batters.
"I have the approach that every game and every series is important during the season," said head coach Jim Brownlee. "Obviously, it is important to defend your home turf, and from that standpoint, we are playing a nationally-ranked opponent. In order to be good, you have to beat your tough opponents. I'm anxious to see how we will perform, because we have hit some bumps in the road since we got back from break. We haven't been able to play, or practice outdoors. We will see how our kids will respond. We have been resilient so far this season, and I like our team's chances."
The Redbirds face a Wichita State team (11-3) team that has won eight-straight games, including a three-game sweep of TCU last weekend. Junior Conor Gillaspie leads the Shockers' attack, and has batted .473 with 17 runs and 17 RBI in 14 games this season. The Shockers will send senior left-hander Rob Musgrave to the mound Friday. Musgrave, a third team preseason all-America selection, has compiled a 2-0 record and 2.62 ERA in four starts this season. Right-hander Aaron Shafer is expected to start Saturday's contest. Shafer, who was also a preseason all-America pick, is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four starts in 2008.
Junior Anthony Capra will start the series finale Sunday. Capra has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in two starts this season, but has not been healthy for the majority of the season. Capra underwent an emergency appendectomy Feb. 23, and was sidelined for the first two weeks of the season.
Live statistics will be available on GoRedbirds.com for all three games at Duffy Bass Field. The official home for Redbird baseball, WJBC AM 1230, will also be broadcasting all three games live on www.wjbc2.com. Zach Parcell will be handling the play-by-play duties for all three contests
