Baseball Set for Four-Game Series at SEMO

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – After dropping three-straight contests at No. 17 Oklahoma State, the Illinois State baseball team travels to face SEMO for a four-game series over March 5-7. The match-ups will be on ESPN SEMO radio.

SERIES INFORMATION
Illinois State (2-3, 0-0 MVC) at Southeast Missouri State (2-5, 0-0 OVC)

Days/Times:

Friday, March 5 (3:00 p.m. CT)

*Saturday, March 6 (12:00 p.m. + 3:00 p.m. CT) – *both games Saturday are 7 innings

Sunday, March 7 (1:00 p.m. CT)

City: Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Field: Capaha Field

Radio: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM & 1220 AM 

Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4

PROJECTED PITCHERS FOR ILLINOIS STATE
Game 1: Colton Johnson (2021: 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 4 K)

Game 2: Jordan Lussier (2021: 3.86 ERA, 7 IP, 10 K)

Game 3: Sean Sinisko (2021: 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 4 K)

Game 4: Cameron Mabee (2021: 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 9 K)

LAST TIME OUT
The Redbirds--despite out-hitting No. 17 Oklahoma State in game one and each team recording seven hits in games two and three--were swept by the Cowboys with scorelines of 3-2, 8-2, and 6-0.

Fifth-year senior Colton Johnson threw 6.1 innings with four hits, one earned run, four strikeouts, and two walks. Fourth-year junior Jack Butler was 4-for-9 on the weekend.

SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds and Redhawks have met 27 times in series history, most recently on March 12, 2019. The Redbirds have won the last 12 games against the Redhawks, with their last loss coming on March 4, 1995.

The 3/12/19 game saw ISU win 18-6, recording 22 hits. The Redbirds had seven players with at least two hits. Illinois State plated seven runs in the 9th inning to put the game out of reach. Gunner Peterson blasted a pair of home runs in that game while current ISU assistant coach Derek Parola had four hits, (including a HR), three RBI, and two runs scored. The Redbirds blasted six home runs as a team.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
SEMO is off to a 2-5 start in 2021, most recently being swept by now top-ranked Arkansas.

SEMO is expected to start Dylan Dodd on Friday, who fanned 10 batters at No. 2 Arkansas. Andrew Keck has been the most productive offensive player for SEMO in 2021 thus far, batting .321 with four RBI, two HR, and five stolen bases.

Head coach Andy Sawyers is in his 5th season at the head of the Redhawk program.

RANKED WINS
The Redbirds have won some notable games under third-year head coach Steve Holm. In 2020, the team defeated No. 23 Oklahoma and No. 13 Arkansas, both on the road. In 2019, the team defeated No. 1 Vanderbilt, the eventual National Champions. The team also beat No. 7 Louisville on the road in the NCAA Tournament.

REIGNING CHAMPS
The Redbirds are technically reigning champions of the Missouri Valley Conference after splitting the conference title in 2019, ISU's third MVC title (2019, 2013, 2010).

Illinois State was picked to finish second in the MVC behind Dallas Baptist in the preseason poll.

For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).

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