NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State baseball team is scheduled to face 17th-ranked Iowa (D1Baseball poll) on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. CT at Duffy Bass Field as the Hawkeyes enter with a program-best 19-3 start to go with a nine-game winning streak.
SCHEDULE (AT ILLINOIS STATE)
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. CT | VIDEO | RADIO | LIVE STATS
ILLINOIS STATE PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
LHP Sean Sinisko (15.95 ERA, 9 K in 7.1 IP over three appearances, two starts)
ABOUT THE IOWA HAWKEYES
Iowa was 36-19 in 2022, going 12-6 on the road. The Hawkeyes are 19-3 to start 2023, the program's best start ever. Iowa is 10-3 away from Iowa City. Iowa is also scheduled to face common non-conference opponents with ISU: Bradley, Minnesota, UIC, Nebraska, Milwaukee. The Redbirds and Hawkeyes have met 21 times previously, with Illinois State leading, 13-8. Their first meeting was in 1975. Illinois State has won three-straight against Iowa as the Hawkeyes and Redbirds have not played in Normal since 4/1/09 (Iowa win, 9-6). ISU won the most recent 5/3/2022 meeting in Iowa City, highlighted by 3.1 scoreless relief innings from fourth-year junior Erik Kubiatowicz.
WEATHER ISSUES
ISU has had games against Nebraska (3/12), Eastern Illinois (3/17-19), and Minnesota (3/22) cancelled due to weather. Illinois State's schedule is now down to 51 games with room to add five games to reach the maximum of 56. ISU's original schedule featured 55 games.
SERIES AT BELMONT
Third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen tallied four hits, three runs scored, and three stolen bases to lead ISU to an 11-7 Sunday win. Fifth-year senior Derek Salata threw six innings with 11 strikeouts, allowing no earned runs to highlight the Friday and Saturday losses.
THREE STEALS APIECE
Third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen and second-year sophomore JT Sokolove each had three steals in Sunday's 11-7 win at Belmont. Rasmussen and Sokolove are the only players in the MVC with a three-streal game in 2023. Rasmussen and Sokolove are the first Redbird duo since at least 2000 to each have three steals in a game. The 'Birds went 443 games without having a player steal three bases in a game (Sean Beesley, 4/10/14 vs Robert Morris). Seven steals (plus one from 2-YR SO Blake Stenger) are the most by ISU since 2017 vs SIU (also seven)
NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Fifth-year senior Derek Salata threw six innings with 11 strikeouts, allowing no earned runs to earn National Pitcher of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Salata joins freshman Daniel Pacella and Tampa Bay Rays prospect Ryan Cermak as Redbirds to receive a National "of the Week" honor.
SALATA AND 10+ STRIKEOUTS
Fifth-year senior Derek Salata has three 10+ K games (2/24 at Arkansas State -12; 3/10 at Nebraska -10; 3/24 at Belmont - 11)
Salata is the sixth Redbird since 2000 to have three 10+K games. All have been drafted with four going in the top 10 rounds.
-Derek Salata (x2) - 2023; TBD
-Brent Headrick (x4) - 2019;
9th Round to Minnesota Twins
-Jeremy Rhoades (x3) - 2014;
4th Round to Los Angeles Angels
-Corey Maines (x3) - 2011
23rd Round to New York Yankees
-Neal Cotts (x6) - 2001;
2nd Round to Oakland Athletics
-Brian Forystek (x3) - 2000;
4th Round to Baltimore Orioles
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