NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team opens the 2018 season Friday in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the first of a three-game series with the Red Wolves at Tomlinson Stadium. First pitch for Friday's game is set for 6 p.m., with a Saturday matchup scheduled for 5 p.m. The series finale on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.
The Redbirds, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Bo Durkac, were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Illinois State welcomes back all nine position starters and most of its pitchers from last year's team. ISU finished the season strong, advancing all the way to the championship game of the MVC Tournament. ISU was the only league team to defeat league regular-season champion Missouri State, as the Redbirds accomplished the feat three times.Â
Redbird junior shortstop Owen Miller was also voted as one of 15 players representing six teams to the 2018 preseason All-MVC baseball squad. Miller hit .325 with 36 runs scored, 19 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 48 RBI a year ago for the Redbirds, earning second-team All-MVC honors.
Arkansas State registered a 28-27 record a season ago for its first winning season since 2014. The Red Wolves return 18 lettermen from a season ago, along with 15 newcomers on the squad. They open at home for the second straight season and fifth time in the last six seasons, with Illinois State representing the opponent twice after traveling to Jonesboro to begin the 2015 campaign.
Links for audio, video (subscription needed) and live stats (all three games) are available at GoRedbirds.com. Fans can also follow @RedbirdBaseball on Twitter for live updates and more.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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