Illinois State Hosting Valparaiso as MVC Action Heats Up

NORMAL, Ill. – After playing its final non-conference series April 8-10 at Kansas, Illinois State baseball is set to host Valparaiso in a weekend series at Duffy Bass Field. Every weekend series for the rest of the season is part of Missouri Valley Conference play for the Redbirds. All three games will be on ESPN3.

GAME INFORMATION

Illinois State (12-15, 1-2 MVC; 136th in RPI) vs Valparaiso (11-17, 0-3 MVC; 205th in RPI) 

Day/Time (CT):  

Friday, April 15; 5:00 p.m. CT

Saturday, April 16; 3:00 p.m. CT

Sunday, April 17; 1:00 p.m. CT

City: Normal, Ill.

Field: Duffy Bass Field

Tickets: Free

ESPN3: https://es.pn/3EeR5TY (Friday); https://es.pn/3KMrfcr (Saturday): https://es.pn/3LWIb0e (Sunday)

Radio: https://wznd.com/

Live Stats: bit.ly/RedbirdStats

PROJECTED ILLINOIS STATE STARTING PITCHERS

LHP Jared Hart (1.77 ERA, 20.1 IP, 25 K, 5 BB - first start of 2022)

RHP Derek Salata (4.08 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 11 BB)

RHP Jordan Lussier (4.79 ERA, 20.2 IP, 16 K, 12 BB)

SERIES HISTORY + SCOUTING THE BEACONS + LAST MEETING

Illinois State leads the all-time series, 23-12-1. ISU lost to Valparaiso four times in 2021, meaning a quarter of Valpo's wins came against ISU in 2021 as the 'Birds lost 4-of-5 to Valpo. The teams haven't played in Normal since 2018 as ISU took 2-of-3.

Valparaiso went 16-35 in 2021, going 6-26 on the road. Valparaiso is 11-17 in 2022 and is on a six-game losing streak Common opponents for Valparaiso and Illinois State in 2022 outside of the MVC include Murray State, Milwaukee, UIC, Purdue, Iowa, Indiana and Indiana State. Valparaiso has the same number of strikeouts on the mound and at the plate (253), led by 73 from Colin Fields on the mound - 22 more than any other pitcher in the MVC.

Last Meeting: Despite leading 4-1 after the 1st inning, Illinois State's season came to an end with its 6-5 loss to Valparaiso in the MVC Tournament on 5/27/2021. The umpires initially ruled that ISU had tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning as Jeremy Gaines scored from second on a ground ball hit by Tyson Hays. Hays was tagged on the head prior to touching first base but the call was missed initially and was overturned after it appeared ISU may have tied the contest.

CER-SMACK: NATIONAL POW x4 (QUICK HITS ON RYAN CERMAK'S WEEK)

• Named National Player of the Week from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Perfect Game, D1Baseball, and NCBWA
• 11-for-21 (.524)
• .600 OBP
• five home runs, two doubles

• home runs in four-straight plate appearances (hit 470-foot home run for fourth-straight home run)
• three home run game on 4/6 with grand slams in back-to-back innings
• 14 RBIs; broke a 37-year old school RBI record on 4/6 (10 now - was nine by Mike Prior in 1985)

• nine runs scored; tied the school record for runs scored in a game on 4/6 (five - most recent was Brett Kay in 2012)
• recorded 100^th career hit via home run on 4/10
• scaled the center-field wall and appeared to have taken away a home run on 4/10
• celebrated the honors by lining a HR over the LF wall to lead off 4/12's game at Illinois

BIRDS SPLIT WITH ILLINOIS

After Illinois State took care of Illinois with a 10-1 scoreline on 4/5, it looked to be more of the same on 4/12 as the 'Birds scored four times in the first inning, but Illinois responded with 6 runs in the bottom of the fram and ultimately won, 11-9. ISU walked/hit 13 batters while ISU hitters hit three homers.

POWER SURGE

Illinois State has hit 31 HRs in 2022 (1.15/game) (47 in all of 2021 or .825/game). ISU has hit 23 home runs in its last 12 games. In addition to Cermak's three-home run game, ISU has also had two HR single-game outputs from Cermak (x2), Jake McCaw, and Nick Gile. Jonathan Sabotnik homered in two-straight games at Indiana State.

HART DRAWS THE START

Fifth-year junior Jared Hart is projected to start against Valparaiso on 4/15 in his first start of year. Hart, who was ranked as D1Baseball's 71st-best relief pitcher in their mid-year update, has emerged as the top option out of the Redbird bullpen with a 1.77 ERA and 5.0 K-to-BB ratio. Hart, making his second start at ISU, will look to avenge his lone start of 2021, in which he was tagged for 12 ER in 2.2 IP at DBU on 5/7/21. 

Hart has yet to allow more than one ER in an outing this season. Hart is expected start against MVC Pitcher of the Year candidate Colin Fields in a contest that should feature many strikeouts.

WEATHER ISSUES

Illinois State has had five games canceled due to weather in 2022, including 3/29 vs Iowa and 3/30 vs Eastern Illinois.

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). Purdue has also exceeded expectations in 2022, earning a No. 19 ranking from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and was bumped up to 17^th after taking two-of-three from ISU. 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.

PROMOTIONS

Friday, April 15th @ 5pm

• Jackie Robinson Day:

  • 75th Anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the MLB

  • Student Giveaway: Jackie Robinson Shirt

    • Students must bring their Student I.D. to the marketing table.

    • Available while supplies last.

Saturday, April 16th @ 3pm

• Easter

  • Easter Egg Hunt starting at 2pm on the soccer field. Fans come to the main gate and head over to the soccer field.

  • Pregame: 

    • New Illinois State Men's Basketball Coach, Ryan Pedon, will throw out the first pitch.

    • Kids can participate in pregame activities taking place on the concourse.

  • In-game: 

    • Kids can sign up for Wacky in-game promotions at the marketing tabel when arriving at the ballpark.

  • Postgame: 

    • Player Autographs

  • Your favorite Redbird, Reggie, will be at the Duff all game long!

  • Concession Special: Easter Candy

Sunday, April 17th @ 1pm

• Sunday Run Day: Kids run the bases for 20 minutes after the game is over.

• Concession Special: $5 Dippin' Dots

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.