NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State baseball head coach Steve Holm has announced the team's 2019 campaign. The Redbirds' slate features 56 games, including 20 home games at Duffy Bass Field, two trips to Nashville, two Big Ten opponents, 21 Missouri Valley Conference games, in addition to hosting the 2019 MVC baseball championship.
"We are excited how this year's schedule came together, because we feel that Duffy Bass Field is such a great place to play. We have made a real effort to schedule more games on our campus," said Holm. "This year, our spring break trip will start off in Nashville, squaring off against Vanderbilt, and we will end it at home on our campus versus Central Michigan."
Illinois State will open the season on the road in Nashville as they take on Belmont (Feb. 15-17). The Redbirds will take on Central Arkansas in a four-game series that includes a doubleheader (Feb. 22-24). In March, the Redbirds open the month on the road against Murray State (Mar. 1-3), before returning to Nashville to battle Vanderbilt (Mar. 8-10). The Redbirds will play games 14 and 15 of the season on the road against Southeast Missouri State and SIUE (Mar. 12-13), respectively.
Illinois State will come home to Duffy Bass Field for the first time in 2019 to wrap up its spring break versus Central Michigan in a four-game series (Mar. 15-17). The Redbirds will also host University of Illinois at Chicago (Mar.19) in that stretch.
The Redbirds will be on the road for the last two weekends in March in nonconference play against Illinois (Mar. 22-24), and Creighton (Mar. 29-31). Illinois State will also play Big Ten opponent, Iowa, on April 3. Illinois State will be on the road for other midweek matchups, which include the home-and-home series against Illinois at Chicago (Apr. 16) and Northwestern (Apr. 30).
"The non-conference portion of our schedule will certainly challenge us as a program and get us ready for the highly competitive MVC," added Holm.
The Redbirds open the MVC portion of their schedule on the road at Valparaiso (Apr. 5-7). Illinois State road opponents in the Valley include Southern Illinois (Apr. 19-21), Dallas Baptist (Apr 26-28), and the program will finish with a battle against I-74 rival Bradley (May 10-12).
Illinois State will host three conference opponents at Duffy Bass Field this year, including the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Champions Missouri State (Apr. 12-14), Indiana State (May 3-5), and Evansville to wrap up the regular season (May 17-19).
Illinois State will be hosting this year's MVC Tournament at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois (May 22-25).
Illinois State will host several midweek matchups at Duffy Bass Field in 2019, including Milwaukee, who they beat 5-3 last year (Mar. 26), in-state foes Eastern Illinois (Apr. 2) and Illinois (Apr. 9). The Redbirds will also play Sacramento State (Apr. 17), Northern Illinois (Apr. 23), and SIUE (May 14).
Holm had a coaching stint at Sacramento State, while current ISU assistant coach, Dane Fujinaka, played three seasons and coached there as well.
"It's always exciting to compete against a team that you've played for and coached," said Fujinaka. "Sacramento State will be a talented, well coached team and we look forward to getting them out to Normal."
Illinois State's full 2019 schedule is available online at GoRedbirds.com
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