MARTIN, Tenn. – Illinois State baseball's third-year freshman Trey Krause is projected to draw the start on the mound for the Redbirds in Tuesday's 5:00 p.m. contest at UT-Martin. Krause was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in February of 2020 before being declared cancer-free in December 2020. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State (5-4, 0-0 MVC; 75th in RPI) at UT-Martin (4-6, 0-0 OVC; 254th in RPI)
Day/Time (CT):
Tuesday, March 8, 5:00 p.m.
City: Martin, Tenn.
Field: Skyhawk Baseball Field
ESPN+: https://es.pn/3617kqZ
Live Stats: bit.ly/StatsatUTM
PROJECTED ILLINOIS STATE STARTING PITCHER
LHP Trey Krause (first career appearance)
SERIES HISTORY + SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
UT-Martin went 19-29 in 2021, going 5-8 at home. UTM is off to a 4-6 start, taking one of three against North Alabama. The Skyhawks are hitting just .231 but nine different players have at least one home run. Common opponents for UTM and Illinois State in 2022 are Southern Illinois, Western Carolina, Eastern Illinois, SIUE, and Murray State.
Illinois State won the only contest ever played between the two teams, a 3-2 win to open the 1994 season. The 'Birds made the NCAA Tournament in 1994.
KRAUSE RETURNS FROM CANCER
Third-year freshman Trey Krause is expected to make his Illinois State debut Tuesday after a 10-month battle with Ewing's Sarcoma.
Krause was diagnosed in Feb. 2020 and was deemed cancer-free in Dec. 2020 and was able to return to the bullpen mound in Sept. 2021.
'BIRDS WIN SERIES FINALE AT ARKANSAS STATE
After dropping the first two games of the series by a combined three runs, the 'Birds took care of business with a 7-1 win in the series finale at Arkansas State.
Fifth-year senior Colin Wyman fired five scoreless innings in game three while fifth-year junior Jared Hart provided three scoreless innings over two appearances. Third-year sophomore Greg Nichols had a team-high five RBIs in the series.
'BIRDS SWEEP WESTERN CAROLINA
Illinois State recorded its first three-game sweep of a series since Southern Illinois in April of 2019 as the 'Birds outscored Western Carolina, 28-15, over the three games.
WCU entered the series leading the nation in runs scored against D1 opponents, hitting .382. ISU limited WCU to 5 runs/game and a .252 batting average.
Fifth-year junior Jake McCaw homered in each game as the Redbirds smacked six home runs as a team.
TOP-2 TAKEDOWN
Illinois State took down second-ranked Arkansas to open the 2022 campaign by a 3-2 score. Arkansas had not previously lost a home or season opener since 1994. The 11 runs the Razorbacks scored were tied for the fewest plated by an SEC team and tied for the third-fewest scored by a top-25 (D1Baseball top-25).
The 'Birds were competitive all series, outhitting the Razorbacks in game two and trailing by a run in the 8th inning of game three.
Illinois State is no stranger to the national stage, upending #1 Vanderbilt and #7 Louisville in 2019 as the team made the program's first NCAA Regional final. Likewise, ISU is no stranger to success in Fayetteville as the 2020 team knocked off the 13th-ranked Razorbacks, 8-7.
TOUGH TESTS IN 2022
Illinois State is scheduled to play six games against preseason ranked opponents (three at No. 2 Arkansas, three vs No. 22 Dallas Baptist). Illinois State is also scheduled to play a program-record 16 games against Power Five schools, including 10 contests against the Big Ten. 2022 marks the first time ISU has opened against a Power Five since 2004 (win at Louisville). 2022 marks the first time ISU has ever opened against a ranked opponent.
NEW AND NOT-SO-NEW FACES
Illinois State adds 17 players (5 freshmen, 12 transfers) to its roster for the 2022 season. Key contributors are expected to be Charlotte transfer RHP Kolton Scherbenske, Cabrillo College transfer C Adrian Flores, Sacramento City College transfer SS Greg Nichols, among others. The Redbirds also expected to return a healthy RHP Mason Burns (shoulder), LHP Trey Krause (Ewing's Sarcoma), RF Jonathan Sabotnik (redshirt), C Tyler Woltman from its 2021 roster.
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).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
