Baseball Hosts Creighton in Weather-Changed Schedule

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds will play at home for the first time this season when the squad hosts the Creighton Blue Jays in a weather-changed series against the former Missouri Valley Conference foes.

Game 1 | Friday, March 23 | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Audio: WZND
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast

Game 2 | Friday, March 23| 4:30 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Audio: WZND
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast

Game 3 | Saturday, March 24| 2 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Audio: WZND
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast

Illinois State comes into the game with one of the top offenses in the country, and this season, through 17 games, the team ranks in the top-50 in seventh offensive categories including scoring offense (11th, 8.3), home runs per game (17th, 1.29), slugging percentage (18th, .475), doubles per game (12th, 2.53), home runs (24th, 22), batting average (38th, .295), and total runs (46th, 141). Individually, Owen Miller ranks tenth in the country in runs per game (1.35), and 36th in runs (23). 

Creighton comes into the series with a 10-6 overall record, and have won for of its last five games, including two wins over Minnesota and one over Kansas State. Clark Brinkman leads the team in batting average (.386), while Michael Emodi is batting .379 with a team-high seven home runs and 28 RBI's. As a team, the Blue Jays bat .267, while opponents hit .293 against them. Leading the pitching staff has been Ryan Tapani, who is 3-0 on the year with a 1.48 ERA in five starts.