NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State baseball has announced its 2023 schedule, highlighted by nine games against Big Ten opponents and an expanded conference schedule.
Illinois State opens the 2022 campaign at Austin Peay from February 17-19 as its non-conference series slate is highlighted by a March 10-12 trip to Nebraska and its home-opening contests on March 17-19 against Eastern Illinois.
The Redbirds also have midweek match-ups against four Power Five schools (at Arkansas, March 1; vs Minnesota, March 21-22; vs/at Iowa, March 28, May 2; at/vs Illinois, April 4, April 11)
The expanded Missouri Valley Conference schedule begins with the 'Birds traveling to Belmont from March 24-26. Illinois State hosts 2022 MVC Tournament champions Missouri State the following weekend and heads to 2022 MVC Regular Season champions Southern Illinois from April 28-30.
The MVC Tournament is scheduled for May 23-27 with eight of the conference's 10 teams qualifying for the double-elimination tournament. Host Indiana State is not guaranteed a spot in the field.
SCHEDULE NOTES
-Illinois State is scheduled to play 27 MVC games, the most since the 2021 'Birds played 27 conference games (MVC teams played four-game series put in place as a result of COVID-19). The Redbirds played 32 MVC games in 2004, making the 27 MVC games in 2023 tied for the most conference games played by the 'Birds since 2004.
-Illinois State's MVC foes had a combined 260-222-1 (.539) record in 2022.
-Illinois State is scheduled to play Lindenwood for the first time in program history.
-Illinois State returns to Fayetteville after knocking off second-ranked Arkansas to open the 2022 campaign.
-Illinois State's current schedule features 55 games, allowing for the team to add a game to reach the limit of 56.
*All opponents, dates, times, and locations are subject to change
QUOTE FROM FIFTH-YEAR HEAD COACH STEVE HOLM
"We are excited about this year's schedule and even more excited to see how this group of players is able to handle it. We obviously travel south for the first few weeks to find some warm weather, during that time we will make yet another stop at the University of Arkansas to play the Hogs. The fourth weekend of our season, we make the trip Lincoln to take on the Huskers, which should be a great series and a fun environment for our guys. And finally, we look forward to taking on some new opponents in the always-challenging Missouri Valley."
2022 SEASON SUMMARY
Illinois State was 20-31 overall (7-14 MVC) in 2021 in a season that saw Tampa Bay Rays second-round draftee Ryan Cermak gain national attention as he was honored by four outlets (D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game, National Collegiate Baseball Newspaper) as National Player of the Week following a 3-HR, 10-RBI game (at Western Illinois on 4/6) before leading off the next game (at Kansas on 4/9) with a 470-foot home run. Cermak was the highest pick for Illinois State since Neal Cotts in 2001 and won the program's first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.
Illinois State opened the 2022 season by knocking off #2 Arkansas before providing #19 Purdue with its first loss of 2022 on 3/17, snapping the Boilermakers' run as the nation's last remaining unbeaten team. The Redbirds also beat Illinois and won at Iowa.
WHO'S BACK? (2023 ROSTER)
2022 MVC ERA leader and fifth-year senior Jared Hart highlights a veteran pitching staff that returns key pieces in fifth-year senior Derek Salata, fifth-year junior Sean Sinisko, and fourth-year juniors Erik Kubiatowicz, Cameron Mabee, and Jordan Lussier, among others.
Third-year junior Luke Cheng leads the returning position players after a breakout sophomore campaign. Fifth-year senior Connor Olson and second-year sophomores JT Sokolove and JP Gauthier are among the other returning position players.
RETURN STATS
• PITCHING: 357.1/449.2 IP (79.5%), 45/51 starts (88.2%), 317/391 K (81.1%), and 17/20 wins (85%)
• HITTING: 749/1794 AB (41.8%), 3/50 HR (6%), 34/129 XBH (26.4%), 83/235 RBI (35.3%), 189/468 hits (40.4%), 98/261 runs (37.5%), 13/37 SB (35.1%)
WHO'S NEW (TRANSFERS)?
Fourth-year junior Shaydon Kubo (Northern Colorado) and third-year junior Elijah Dale (Kansas State) highlight the Redbirds' group of transfer newcomers while third-year juniors Auggie Rasmussen (Iowa Western CC) and Judah Morris and second-year sophomores Nick Strong (Delta College) and Noah Rabin (Santa Rosa JC) are also expected to play significant roles, among others.
WHO'S NEW (FRESHMEN)?
Shai Robinson and Daniel Pacella highlight the Redbirds' well-respected class of nine freshmen.
WHO'S GONE?
Tampa Bay Rays second-round draft pick Ryan Cermak headlines the group that the Redbirds seek to replace for 2023. Jake McCaw, the 2021 MVC batting champ in conference play, also departs while everyday third baseman Nick Gile and Colorado Rockies signee has graduated, too. Additionally, versatile pitcher Colin Wyman graduated, as well as Kyle Soberano and Aidan Huggins, among others.
2023 SCHEDULE
Feb. 17-19: at Austin Peay
Feb. 21: at SIUE
Feb. 24-26: at Arkansas State
March 1: at Arkansas
March 3-5: at Central Arkansas
March 10-12: at Nebraska
March 17-19: vs Eastern Illinois
March 21-22: vs Minnesota
March 24-26: at Belmont*
March 28: at Iowa
March 31-Apr. 2: vs Missouri State*
Apr 4: at Illinois
Apr. 5: at Western Illinois
Apr. 7-9: at Indiana State*
Apr. 11: vs Illinois
Apr. 14-16: vs Murray State*
Apr. 18: vs Milwaukee
Apr. 19 at Northern Illinois
Apr. 21-23: at Bradley*
Apr. 25: vs Lindenwood
Apr. 26: vs Northern Illinois
Apr. 28-30: at Southern Illinois*
May 2: vs Iowa
May 5-7: vs Evansville*
May 12-14: vs UIC*
May 18-20: at Valparaiso*
*Missouri Valley Conference contest
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