FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Illinois State baseball team is set for a battle with third-ranked Arkansas on Wednesday. The teams have met three of the last four seasons with ISU topping the 13th-ranked Razorbacks in 2020 before taking an Opening Day victory over second-ranked Arkansas in 2022.
SCHEDULE (AT ARKANSAS)
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. CT | SECN+ | RADIO | LIVE STATS
ILLINOIS STATE PROJECTED STARTING PITCHER
RHP Thomas Harper [3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 6 K over one relief appearance (vs APSU on 2/18) and one start (at SIUE on 2/21)]
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Arkansas (5-2) was 46-21 in 2022, going 28-7 at home. The Razorbacks are 5-2 to start the 2023 season, recording wins against Texas, Oklahoma State, Grambling, and Eastern Illinois (two). Arkansas is also scheduled to face common opponents with ISU: Eastern Illinois, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, and Missouri State.
The Redbirds and Razorbacks have met 13 times previously, with Arkansas leading, 9-4. Their first meeting was in 1950. ISU dropped the most recent 2/20/22 matchup, 4-2. Arkansas won game two of the series, 5-1, but the Redbirds recorded a 3-2 win against the 2nd-ranked Razorbacks on Opening Day. Current Illinois State baseball Director of Operations Colin Wyman threw 3.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs in the Illinois State win on 2/18/2022
SERIES WIN AT ARKANSAS STATE
Illinois State took its second series of 2023 (matching its series win total from 2022), beating Arkansas State in the first two games before falling in the series finale.
Fifth-year senior Derek Salata threw six innings with 12 strikeouts in game one while five Redbirds had multi-hit games in game two to lead the Redbirds to victory. A lackluster defensive showing yielded a 14-run outburst for ASU on Sunday as the ISU's 10 runs weren't enough to sweep the series.
HOME RUNS FOR PACELLA
Highly-touted freshman Daniel Pacella struck in the 9th inning of 2/21's game at SIUE, smacking his first career home run to center field. He also provided a key insurance run with a home run to left-center in the 7th inning of Friday's win at ASU. Pacella is off to a strong start at the plate, hitting .308 (8-for-26) over six starts and seven games played.
FOUR WITH TWO+ STEALS IN A GAME
Illinois State, which stole 37 bases in 2022 (.725 per game), already has 14 steals through seven games (2 per game) in 2023. Fourth-year junior Shay Kubo, third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen, and second-year sophomores Blake Stenger and Noah Rabin each have a game with multiple steals.
FLORES JUST KEEPS HITTING
Fourth-year junior Adrian Flores, traditionally a catcher, made his first career start on 2/19 at APSU. Flores, who saw limited time at DH and catcher in 2022, has been ISU's best hitter since breaking into the lineup, going 11-for-20 (.550) with a home run, six RBI, and four runs scored.
ELI(TE) RELIEF PITCHING
After allowing three runs and surrendering the lead in the 7th inning of 2/19's game, third-year junior Elijah Dale settled in nicely, holding APSU scoreless in his final three innings of work. Dale was credited with the win and struck out eight. The Kansas State transfer picked up where he left off in Friday's win at Arkansas State, recording five strikeouts in three innings while allowing one run to earn his first career save.
HIGH K/9 EARLY
Illinois State has 81 strikeouts in 61.2 IP in 2023 (11.8 K/9), ranking 23rd in the nation. Fifth-year senior Derek Salata has 17 strikeouts in 10 IP (15.3 K/9; T-40th in the nation) while third-year junior Elijah Dale has 13 strikeouts in 7 innings (16.7 K/9; T-22nd in the nation). Illinois State is one of three schools (Wake Forest, Iowa) with two pitchers in the top-40.
RETURNER HOME RUNS
Illinois State returned just a trio of home runs from its 2022 roster, tied for the fewest in the nation with Kansas. The returnees combined for three home runs in the season-opening series as Greg Nichols, Adrian Flores, and JT Sokolove each went yard. No Redbird newcomers homered in the opening series, but freshman Daniel Pacella (at SIUE, at ASU) and third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen (at ASU) have homered since, bringing the ISU HR total to six for 2023.
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