PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The Illinois State baseball team will be up for a tough task in its three-game series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff from March 1-3. The 6-2 Golden Lions lead the country in scoring (15.1) while sitting top-20 in Division I in six other team categories, including 16th in ERA (2.90).
SCHEDULE
Friday at 2:00 p.m. CT at Arkansas-Pine Bluff |Â LIVE STATS
Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | LIVE STATS
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | LIVE STATSÂ
ABOUT THE UAPB GOLDEN LIONS
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-2) was 17-32 (10-20 SWAC) in 2023, including a 10-20 home record. The Golden Lions are coming off a four-game sweep of Arkansas Baptist last weekend.
This weekend marks the first time the Redbirds and Golden Lions on the diamond. Overall, since 2019, the Redbirds are 10-14 (incl. 2024) when playing in the state of Arkansas, with games against Central Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Arkansas State.
Along with leading the country in scoring, the Golden Lions are currently top-20 in the following Division I categories: (.374 – 3rd), doubles per game (3.75 – 2nd), on base percentage (.501- 2nd), triples per game (0.62 – 11th), and slugging percentage (.583 – 20th).
TOP-100 'BIRDS
As of Feb. 29, the Redbirds currently sit in the top-50 for NCAA DI Baseball in the following team categories: batting average (.338 - 24th), double plays per game (1.43 – 8th), double plays (10 – 6th), fielding percentage (.985 – 21st), hits (94 – 31st), sacrifice flies (7 – 20th), slugging percentage (.535 – 38th), sacrifice flies (7 – 11th) and stolen bases (13 - 46th).
DANNY DINGERS (and more)
Sophomore Daniel Pacella reached base at a blistering .625 clip in a three-game series at Little Rock while going 5-for-11 with a double, a homerun, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Pacella also walked four times, becoming the first ISU batter with four+ walks in a game since Jordan Libman had four versus Arkansas State in March 2021.
EARLY OFFENSE
With the 18-12 win over St. Thomas to begin the 2024 season, Illinois State has scored 15+ runs on 10 separate occasions since 2019 (four times in 2023, twice in 2022, and three times in 2019).
STRONG START TO 2024
In the season opening win over St. Thomas, Illinois State totaled 18 runs and 20 hits to gather the program's fourth straight season opening win. The 20 hits are the most in a game for the Redbirds since March 2019 when ILS finished with 22 hits at SIUE.
Meanwhile, the 18 runs are the most runs scored in a season opener for ILS since a 27-run outburst at Belmont to start the 2019 season as well.
With the win, Illinois State has won four straight season openers (at Austin Peay, win 13-2 in 2023; at #2 Arkansas, win 3-2 in 2022; at SIUE, win 6-1 in 2021) and 9 of the last 12.
For the latest updates on Illinois State Baseball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdBaseball) and Instagram (isuredbirdbaseball), and like the team on Facebook (Illinois State Baseball).Â
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