April 13, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. - Fresh off a series victory over the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Illinois State Redbirds look to keep rolling and will travel to Northern Illinois Tuesday before hosting Purdue at Duffy Bass Field Wednesday in a pair of non-conference, mid-week match-ups. Tuesday's contest with the Huskies at Riverfront stadium will begin at 3 p.m.
Due to technical difficulties, the Redbird Baseblog will not be available for the game Tuesday at Northern Illinois. The blog will return for Wednesday's matchup with Purdue.
Illinois State handed Missouri State its first loss in conference play with a walk-off single in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday and won the series with more late-inning heroics Sunday. The wins moved the Redbirds into fifth place in the Valley, but the team will temporarily shift its focus to non-conference play.
The Redbirds won, 14-10, in last year's trip to DeKalb, Ill., and hold a 73-54-1 lead in the all-time series with the Huskies. The teams were scheduled to play last Tuesday (April 7) at Duffy Bass Field but wet weather led to unplayable field conditions and the game's cancellation.
Ben Hays is scheduled to make his second start of the season for the Redbirds against Northern Illinois' Tom Barry. Hays struck out five in 2.2 innings in his season debut as Illinois State defeated Purdue, 12-11, last Wednesday (April 8). Barry has a 2-0 record and 4.50 ERA in six appearances for the Huskies.
Illinois State's Mike Stalowy earned State Farm Missouri Valley Player of the Week honors Monday after batting .526 (10-for-19) in four games last week. Stalowy leads the Redbirds with four triples, is tied for the team lead with two home runs and is second among Redbirds with a .343 batting average. Evan Kohli (.345), Collin Salzenstein (.304) and Ryan Court (.302) are the other Redbirds hitting over .300 through 26 games.
Northern Illinois' Jordin Hood has played in every game and posted a .410 batting average. He leads the Huskies in almost every statistical category including doubles (13), home runs (6), RBI (30), runs (33) and stolen bases (9). Dave Reynolds is another consistent contributor for NIU with a .362 average and 22 RBI. The Huskies are hitting .285 as a team but the bullpen has posted a 7.35 ERA.
Illinois State will get a second look at Purdue on Buck Night at Duffy Bass Field, with admission and various items at the concession stand costing just $1. Eric Charles is batting .429 for the Boilermakers in 16 starts but the most dangerous hitter in the lineup is Dan Black. Black has started every game for the black and gold and leads the team with 11 home runs and 37 RBI. The catcher is reaching base at a .549 clip thanks to 41 walks and seven hit-by-pitches.
The Redbirds could pull even with the Boilermakers in the all-time series as last week's win put ISU at 12-13 against Purdue. The Boilermakers are batting .310 as a team and the bullpen has combined for a 6.62 ERA. Quinn Ewert is penciled in as the starting pitcher for the Redbirds but his probable opponent was not available Monday.
Illinois State resumes Valley play with a three-game series at Northern Iowa this weekend (April 17-19).
