NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds and Butler Bulldogs will play in a unique home and home series with the teams meeting on Saturday in Indianapolis, and then meet again a day later at Duffy Bass Field.
Saturday, April 28 | 1 p.m.
Live Video: Butler Facebook Live Video
Live Stats: Butler StatBroadcast
Illinois State Starting Pitcher: TBA
Butler Starting Pitcher: Connor Mitchell, LHP, 3-3, 3.38 ERA
Sunday, April 29 | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Video: WZND
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast
Illinois State Starting Pitcher: TBA
Butler Starting Pitcher: TBA
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Butler comes into the weekend series with a 26-11 overall record, and an even 4-4 mark in BIG EAST play. In their most recent BIG EAST series, the bulldogs were swept at home by the Seton Hall Pirates, before topping IU-Kokomo and Miami (Ohio) in mid-week contests heading into the weekend series.
The Bulldog offense is led by Tyler Houston, who is batting .346 with team-highs in runs (35), doubles (13), and home runs (4). Garrett Christman is just behind Houston in batting average at .344, and has a team-best 36 RBI's this year. Michael Hartnagel is the third Butler player hittng at or above .300 at .333, as he has scored 29 times, and leads the team with seven stolen bases.
The pitching staff is led by a Sam Hubbe, who has a 1.73 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 41.2 innings of work. Game one starter Connor Mitchell leads the team with 63 strikeouts in 53.1 innings of work, and has a 3-3 record with a 3.38 ERA. Christman (3-4, 3.20 ERA) and Ryan Pepiot (3-0, 4.15 ERA) have also started at least seven games, with Pepiot standing second on the team with 50 strikeouts in 39.0 innings of work.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS
Illinois State comes into the game looking to snap out of its current six-game losing skid.
Offensively the team has been led by junior shortstop
Owen Miller, who is batting .362 with a team-high 33 runs scored, while also driving in 21 and swiping six bases.
John Rave bats .323 with team-highs with two triples, six home runs, and 35 runs driven in.
Collin Braithwaite is just off of the .300 pace at .298, and has scored 25 times with 30 RBI's and a team-leading 20 drawn walks.
Brady Huffman's 48 strikeouts lead the team, as the sophomore has a 1-3 record and a 4.26 ERA in 57.0 innings of work.
Brent Headrick (1-6, 6.58 ERA) and
Matt Walker (4-1, 5.26 ERA) have 42 and 41 strikeouts, respectively.
Trevor Cross leads the bullpen in strikeouts with 31 on the season in 25.1 innings.Â
