Tickets: The most up-to-date ticket information can be found here: bit.ly/BradleyTickets
PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State baseball team is set to travel to Bradley for a three-game set from May 20-22. The series concludes ISU's regular season slate and is pivotal in determining which teams finish in the top-four of the Missouri Valley Conference standings and will not need to play in the conference tournament's single-elimination play-in round.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (21-30, 11-13 MVC) at Bradley (18-19, 10-9 MVC)
Days/Times (CT):
Thursday, May 20, 11:00 a.m.
Friday, May 21, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 22, 11:00 a.m.
City: Peoria, Ill.
Field: Dozer Park
Tickets: The most up-to-date ticket information can be found here: bit.ly/BradleyTickets
Video: bit.ly/BradleyVideo1, bit.ly/BradleyVideo2, bit.ly/BradleyVideo3
Live Stats: bit.ly/BradleyStats
PROJECTED ILLINOIS STATE STARTING PITCHERS
LHP Colton Johnson (3-4, 72.2 IP, 72 K, 3.22 ERA)
RHP Jordan Lussier (6-2, 63.2 IP, 60 K, 4.10 ERA)
LHP Sean Sinisko (5-5, 66.2 IP, 52 K, 4.05 ERA)
THE BATTLE FOR 4TH (OR 3RD…OR 2ND)
The Redbirds control their own destiny as to whether or not they make the MVC's top-four in the conference standings and avoid the MVC tournament play-in. Illinois State could finish anywhere from 2nd to 8th in the conference standings as ISU trails Indiana State by three games, Southern Illinois by two games, and Bradley by a game and a half.
A sweep by the Redbirds would secure a top-four spot while winning 2-of-3 would require Dallas Baptist to beat Southern Illinois in all four games. The 'Birds cannot make the top-four if they lose two or more games against Bradley. If ISU sweeps BU, Evansville sweeps Indiana State, and Dallas Baptist wins at least three games against Southern Illinois, then the 'Birds would be the 2-seed.
SERIES VS MISSOURI STATE
The Redbirds took 3-of-4 against Missouri State over the past weekend. Third-year freshman Sean Sinisko fired a nine-inning complete game, allowing one run, to lead the Illinois State pitching staff that conceded just eight runs in 35 innings over the four games.
Fourth-year sophomore Jake McCaw continued his hot hitting by going 7-for-14 (.500) with a 2B, 3B, and HR to go with five runs scored. Fourth-year junior Kyle Soberano was 5-for-12 (.417) while second-year freshman Ryan Cermak was 3-for-10 (.300) with a 2B and HR.
TOPS IN THE VALLEY
ISU has three of the top eight in batting average in MVC action only. Fourth-year sophomore Jake McCaw is 1st at .422, fourth-year junior Kyle Soberano is 3rd with a .411 average, and second-year freshman Ryan Cermak is 8th with a .365 clip.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds and Braves have met 225 times in a series history with Bradley leading, 116-109. The first game of the series was played in 1901. Bradley is Illinois State's most common opponent. (Indiana State with 201 meetings is second)
The teams most recently met on 5/12/2019 in Peoria. Bradley won, 7-2. The Redbirds won the first two games of the series. Fifth-year senior Joe Butler had two hits and a run scored. Fifth-year junior Jack Butler added a double while fifth-year junior Jeremy Gaines contributed an RBI.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
BU is 18-19 overall and 10-9 in the MVC. The Braves are coming off a split at Dallas Baptist. Connor O'Brien and Dan Bolt are both have a .375 batting average to lead the offensive attack. The team is hitting .269 and has hit 32 home runs. The Braves have limited opponents to a .247 batting average and hold a 5.14 team ERA. The staff has 270 strikeouts in 310 innings pitched.
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. The Redbirds cannot finish higher than second.
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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