Redbirds unveil 2014 baseball schedule

[November 25, 2013]  NORMAL — The defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State baseball team unveiled its 54-game 2014 baseball schedule last week. The schedule features four opponents who earned 2013 NCAA tournament bids, six teams that won more than 30 games, and it includes 22 contests at Duffy Bass Field, where admission will remain free for the third consecutive season.

"We are excited for the 2014 season to arrive, and we are working hard to be prepared," said defending Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year Mark Kingston. "This schedule will provide us with challenging Southern road games early, preparing us for the always tough Missouri Valley Conference. We are also looking forward to our first full home schedule with FieldTurf, allowing our fans many opportunities to see us play."

Illinois State will play 2013 NCAA tournament participants Central Arkansas, Illinois, Wichita State and Florida in addition to 30-plus game winners Dallas Baptist and Missouri State.

The Redbirds open the season with a 17-game road trip, starting with a three-game series at Murray State in Kentucky (Feb. 14-16). ISU then makes two trips to the Deep South, first visiting Jonesboro, Ark., for a four-game set at Arkansas State (Feb. 21-23) and then traveling to Central Arkansas for a four-game series (Feb. 28-March 2). Following a one-game trip to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (March 3), Illinois State will fly to Florida for five games over spring break. The Redbirds will once again compete in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla. Opponents have not yet been determined for the four-game set (March 7-9). ISU will travel to Gainesville, Fla. for a single game at Florida (March 12).

Illinois State will open the home portion of its 2014 schedule with an eight-game homestand, beginning with a three-game series versus Western Illinois (March 14-16). After a return trip from SIUE (March 19), the Redbirds begin Missouri Valley Conference competition with a three-game tilt versus in-state foe Bradley (March 21-23). The homestand concludes with one game versus Big Ten opponent Illinois (March 25).

The Redbirds will visit Indiana State (March 28-30) before returning to Duffy Bass Field for a nonconference game against Eastern Illinois (April 1). The newest Valley opponent, Dallas Baptist, will visit Normal (April 4-6) for a three-game series.

ISU travels to DeKalb to play Northern Illinois (April 8) and continues nonconference play with a pair of games at Duffy Bass Field, welcoming NAIA Robert Morris (April 10) and Division III Webster (April 13). The Redbirds will embark on a five-game road swing beginning with Illinois (April 15). ISU will continue MVC play with a three-game tilt at Missouri State (April 18-20) and participate in the annual Horenberger-Bass Classic at Illinois Wesleyan (April 22).

Illinois State will close April with a five-game homestand, beginning with Division III MacMurray (April 23). Southern Illinois will play a three-game series at Duffy Bass Field (April 25-27), and Big Ten opponent Purdue closes the homestand (April 29).

The Redbirds conclude nonconference play with a three-game series at Western Illinois (May 2-4). After a three-game set at Evansville (May 9-11), Illinois State will conclude the regular season at home versus Wichita State (May 15-17).

The 2014 Missouri Valley Conference championship will be hosted by Indiana State (May 20-24) in Terre Haute, Ind.

Game times, promotions and opponents will all be finalized over the next few weeks. Live audio for all 54 Illinois State games will be available on WJBC.com and GoRedbirds.com, with select broadcasts on WZND-FM 103.3 in Bloomington-Normal.

Illinois State enters the 2014 season following its best regular season in school history. The 2013 Redbirds won the Missouri Valley Conference title outright for the first time in school history, won a program-record 39 games and had a MVC-record eight first-team all-Valley selections.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]