NORMAL, Ill. – Just two days after playing its home opener, the Illinois State baseball team returns to Duffy Bass Field for its first weekend home series of the season. The Redbirds will host Eastern Kentucky for three games, beginning Friday.
The series opener is set for 3 p.m. Friday, followed by a 1 p.m. game Saturday and a noon start on Sunday.
"Eastern Kentucky has played Louisville close twice this year, taken three out of four from Southern Illinois, and has defeated Bowling Green and Southeast Missouri State – two teams that we have narrowly beaten," said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. "Coming off a win against Marshall on Tuesday, they look to be a tough opponent for us."
Illinois State (8-10) returns to action Friday after suffering a 10-6 loss to Illinois-Chicago in its home opener Wednesday. The Flames scored six runs in the first inning and never trailed in the contest. The Redbirds rallied late, cutting the Illinois-Chicago lead to two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but a four-run eighth from the visitors restored a six-run lead.
The Redbirds will look to weekend starters Will Headean (2-1, 3.51 ERA), Jacob Hendren (3-1, 3.66 ERA) and Jack Landwehr (2-2, 5.70 ERA) against Eastern Kentucky this weekend. The trio boasts a combined 7-4 record and a combined 4.20 ERA, with 95 strikeouts over 81.1 innings of work.
Eastern Kentucky (6-11) enters the game following an 8-4 win over Marshall on Tuesday to snap a four-game skid. The Colonels will look to starters Alex Hamilton (0-2, 5.56 ERA) and Logan Hershenow (1-4, 5.81 ERA) on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Sunday's starter is to be determined.
All Illinois State games at Duffy Bass Field this season will feature free admission, and all fans in attendance at Friday's game will receive a free baseball schedule magnet. Four select Redbird players will be available for autographs in the home dugout after the games on both Saturday and Sunday, and kids will be able to run the bases after the game Sunday, courtesy of Jason's Deli.
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