NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State baseball team is scheduled to host Missouri State in a weekend series at Duffy Bass Field as the Friday game, originally scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT, has been pushed up to a 12:00 p.m. CT start.
SCHEDULE (AT ILLINOIS STATE)
Friday at 12:00 p.m. CT | RADIO | LIVE STATS
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT | VIDEO | RADIO | LIVE STATS
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT | VIDEO | RADIO | LIVE STATS
ILLINOIS STATE PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Derek Salata (1.95 ERA, 43 K in 27.2 IP over five starts)
Saturday: RHP Cameron Mabee (4.43 ERA, 11 K in 20.1 IP over seven appearances, one start)
Sunday: RHP Jayson Hibbard (7.78 ERA, 12 K in 19.2 IP over eight appearances, two starts)
ABOUT THE MISSOURI STATE BEARS
Missouri State was 31-29 in 2022, going 12-14 on the road. Missouri State rallied to win the MVC Tournament and was win away from advancing to Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament but suffered a 29-15 loss to Oklahoma State, despite leading 12-0 through three innings. Missouri State is also scheduled to face common non-conference opponents with ISU: Arkansas State, SIUE, Central Arkansas, Lindenwood, and Arkansas.
The Redbirds and Bears have met 113 times previously, with Missouri State leading, 69-44. Their first meeting was in 1969. Missouri State has won four of the last five, but Illinois State has won 7 of the last 11 vs the Bears. ISU dropped the most recent 5/24/25/2022 meeting to end its 2022 season in a game that had eight innings played on 5/24 but had to be resumed on 5/25 due to weather.
WIN VS #17 IOWA
A key three-run 8th inning propelled the Redbirds past #17 Iowa as fifth-year senior Connor Olson recorded a pinch-hit RBI to put ISU in front in the 8th inning. Fifth-year junior Sean Sinisko (nine K), sixth-year senior Jared Hart (3 IP, 0 R), and Elijah Dale (scoreless 9th) limited Iowa to five hits
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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