NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State (29-12, 10-5 MVC) concludes its five-game homestand with a non-conference tilt Tuesday night versus Purdue (11-29, 5-10 Big Ten). First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field and both parking and admission are free.
Pitching Probables
Wed.
Will Headean (ISU) LHP, 3-1, 3.67 ERA
Kyle Wood (PU) LHP, 0-3, 23.82 ERA
The Opposition: Purdue University Boilermakers (11-29, 5-10 Big Ten)
• Purue University is a public, four-year university located in West Lafeyette, Ind. It was founded in 1869 and currently enrolls 39,256 students.
• The Boilermakers are guided by 16th-year head coach Doug Schreiber. He owns a career-record of 453-425 at Purdue.Â
• The 2012 Boilermakers won the Big Ten Conference for the first time since 1909 and won the Big Ten Conference Tournament for the first time in school history. Last year, Purdue struggled to a 17-34 overall record, including a 6-18 mark in Big Ten play.
• Illinois State is 14-16 all-time versus Purdue. Both team's first met in 1944 and last met in 2012. Last year's scheduled contest at Purdue was rained out.
Last Time Out
Illinois State capped a perfect 5-0 week with three-straight one-run victories over Valley-rival Southern Illinois.
Brock Stewart worked a career-high 3.2 relief innings to help Illinois State outpace Southern Illinois, 4-3, in 12 innings Friday night at Duffy Bass Field. Mike Hollenbeck's bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning capped a walk-off Redbird victory. Stewart, who started the game at third base and went 1-for-5 at the plate, retired 11-of-12 batters faced with two strikeouts and one walk.
Illinois State battled for 15 innings before topping Southern Illinois, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. Dennis Colón's one out sacrifice-fly scored Jack Czeszewski to set off a celebration on the infield. On a day where the wind was blowing in hard from left field, strong pitching dominated the afternoon. David Suarez (3-1) worked a career-best 6.1 innings and tallied a career-high seven strikeouts to earn the win in relief of Dylan Craig. Craig tallied 8.2 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts for a no decision. SIU Starter Todd Eaton fired a career-high 10 innings of one-run ball for a no-decision. Lee Weld worked three scoreless innings and Kyle Preumer (2-4) was ticketed with the loss.
Jeremy Rhoades fired the first nine-inning complete-game of his career to secure a 4-3 comeback victory for Illinois State over Southern Illinois Sunday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. The victory capped a three-game sweep over the Salukis and extended the ISU winning streak to seven games.
Rhoades (5-3) allowed three runs, all earned, on nine hits and added five strikeouts for his second complete-game this season. Brock Stewart knocked a two-run single in the bottom of a three-run eighth inning to give ISU the lead for good.
Dominant Pitching
Illinois State used just five pitchers over 36 innings in a sweep versus SIU over the weekend. Jeremy Rhoades fired a nine-inning, complete-game victory on Sunday while fellow starters Dan Savas (8.1 IP) and Dylan Craig (8.2) worked into the ninth inning in their two starts. In relief, Brock Stewart (3.2) and David Suarez (6.1) worked scoreless appearances and earned wins.
DeJong Named Valley Player of the Week
Paul DeJong was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the Valley offices Monday afternoon. DeJong became the third Redbird to secure Valley honors this season. Logan Leverett was named Player of the Week on March 24 and Dylan Craig earned Pitcher of the Week honors on March 10.
DeJong batted .435/.500/.783 to guide Illinois State to a perfect 5-0 record last week, as he went 10-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. He launched a two-run home run in Illinois State's 3-2 12-inning win over Southern Illinois on Friday night. Saturday, with winds blowing in at 15 miles per hour, DeJong slapped a solo home run over the fence in right field to give ISU and early lead in its 2-1 extra-inning win over the Salukis. DeJong reached base twice and brought home the first run in a three-run eighth inning rally as Illinois State came-from-behind to defeat SIU Sunday. Over the course of the week he added one stolen base and played error-free defense at second base, third base and shortstop.
NCAA Leaders In Strikeouts-Per Nine Innings
Illinois State pitching currently leads the NCAA in strikeouts-per nine innings with a team-stat of 9.3. Vanderbilt (9.3), North Carolina State (9.2), Cal Poly (9.0) and Texas Christian University (8.8) round out the top five. Valley-foe Dallas Baptist (8.6) ranks eighth nationally. Evansville is ranked 47th at 7.5.
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