CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Illinois State baseball team has won five of its last six games and is set to take on Southern Illinois for a weekend series from April 28-30.
SCHEDULE (AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS)
Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT | RADIO | LIVE STATS
Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT | RADIO | LIVE STATS
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT | RADIO | LIVE STATS
ILLINOIS STATE PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Derek Salata (3.78 ERA, 50 IP, 66 K)
Saturday: RHP Cameron Mabee (4.35 ERA, 41.1 IP, 26 K)
Sunday: RHP Jayson Hibbard (6.07 ERA, 40 IP, 24 K)
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
Southern Illinois was 44-16 in 2022, going 24-7 at home. The Salukis are 23-18 in 2023 with a 15-5 mark at home. SIU is also scheduled to face common non-conference opponents with ISU: SIUE, Illinois, Western Illinois, Lindenwood, Austin Peay. The Redbirds and Salukis have met 193 times previously, with Illinois State leading, 98-95.
SIU won the last meeting between the teams on 5/20/22 by a 7-1 score but Illinois State has won seven of the last 10 games in the series.
WIN VS NIU
Despite having only thrown a third of an inning with a 54.00 ERA entering the game, fourth-year sophomore Zach Holcomb threw four scoreless innings in relief, striking out six and allowing a bloop single and HBP.
Freshman Daniel Pacella hit his 12th HR of the year while freshman Shai Robinson reached base four times and fourth-year junior Shaydon Kubo had three hits.
WIN VS LINDENWOOD
Third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen hit two home runs, freshman Shai Robinson had four hits, and freshman Daniel Pacella had three hits to lead Illinois State to the win in the first meeting between the programs.
SERIES WIN AT BRADLEY
Illinois State took two-of-three at Bradley in a pivotal series for the race to make the eight-team MVC Tournament. Freshman Daniel Pacella hit two homers with five RBIs on Saturday. Third-year junior Auggie Rasmussen hit two home runs over the weekend. Freshman Shai Robinson and third-year Judah Morris each hit their first career HRs. Fourth-year junior Cameron Mabee threw seven innings of shutout baseball on Saturday with 94 pitches and three strikeouts.
18 RUNS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Every Redbird in the starting lineup had at least one RBI, one run scored, and reached base via hit or walk at least twice. Fourth-year junior Greg Nichols hit two homers while freshman Ryan Borberg threw three perfect innings in his first career start (exited after 1:52 lightning delay)
HEADRICK MLB DEBUT
Redbird baseball alum Brent Headrick was called up on April 16 for the Minnesota Twins and made his MLB debut on Wednesday at Boston. Headrick was perfect in his first two innings in relief, highlighted by a strikeout of Silver Slugger Rafael Devers, and ultimately completed three innings to record the save in his first Big League appearance. Headrick also threw five innings on April 26 with eight strikeouts against the Yankees, including one against Aaron Judge.
LINDGREN MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT
Redbird baseball alum Jeff Lindgren was called up on April 16 for the Miami Marlins and made his MLB debut in relief against the Minnesota Twins. The Champaign, Ill. native threw five innings, allowing four runs. Lindgren's final two innings were scoreless.
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