April 21, 2011
WICHITA, Kan. -
The Illinois State baseball team returns to the field where the Redbirds won the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, as the Redbirds play a three-game MVC series against Wichita State this weekend at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kan.
ISU (24-10, 4-2 MVC) shared the 2010 Valley regular-season championship with the Shockers (23-17, 3-3 MVC) and beat Wichita State for the tournament title. The Redbirds are scheduled to play the Shockers Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will air live on WEZC 95.9 FM.
"Wichita is, once again, a very good ballclub," Redbird head coach Mark Kingston said. "Their pitching is outstanding, and they have power and speed. We're going to have to play almost flawless baseball. We need to minimize our errors, our pitchers need to throw strikes, and we need to take advantage of opportunities to drive in runs."
Illinois State and Wichita State have amassed similar statistics this season, with ISU hitting .291 compared to WSU's .281 team batting average. The Shockers and Redbirds rank first and second in the conference in runs scored and RBI, with 270 WSU runs versus 255 ISU runs, and 248 Shocker RBI compared to 223 Redbird RBI. Illinois State's pitchers have combined for the lowest ERA in the Valley (3.31), while Wichita State has the third-lowest conference ERA (3.46).
The Shockers are led offensively by Chris O'Brien, who is hitting .406 with 52 RBI on 63 hits, including a team-best seven home runs and 16 doubles. Illinois State's Tyler McNeely leads the Redbirds with a team-high .381 average, including 30 RBI on 40 hits. Additionally, Kevin Tokarski will try to extend his team-best 13-game hitting streak.
ISU will start Corey Maines (7-0) Friday, Dan Savas (3-1) Saturday and JD Learnard (3-2) Sunday. Wichita State is expected to counter with Charlie Lowell (6-4) Friday, Brian Flynn (3-1) Saturday and Josh Smith Sunday (4-2).
The Redbirds have won three-straight games after sweeping last weekend's MVC series at Bradley, while the Shockers took 2-of-3 games against Evansville at Eck Stadium. Wichita State is coming off a 5-3 midweek loss at #15 Oklahoma State Tuesday. Illinois State's midweek game versus Illinois was canceled because of wet weather.
Wichita State leads the all-time series against the Redbirds 86-18, with the Shockers taking 2-of-3 during last season's regular-season set in Normal, Ill.
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