April 22, 2009

EVANSTON, Ill. - A road trip south down I-55 is on tap for the Northwestern baseball team Wednesday as it travels to Normal, Ill., to take on Illinois State. First pitch between the Wildcats and the Redbirds is set for 6 p.m. at Duff Bass Field.

NU (10-24, 2-8 Big Ten) is coming off a weekend split of its abbreviated weekend series with Iowa at Rocky Miller Park. The Wildcats took Friday's opener 4-3 behind a strong pitching performance from Joe Muraski. The junior left-hander went seven strong innings, allowing just four hits. Freshman Hamilton Wise recorded a pair of doubles while driving in a run and scoring once. Kenneth Avila added two hits while Tony Vercelli posted two RBI, including the game-winner on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh.

The Hawkeyes bounced back to take Saturday's contest by a 10-1 scored before Sunday's scheduled series finale was wiped out due to rain.

Northwestern lead the all-time series with Illinois State, 11-7. The teams' most recent meeting was an 11-5 victory by the Wildcats in Normal May, 16, 2006.

The Redbirds bring a 19-12 overall record into Wednesday's contest. They are coming off a three-game weekend sweep at Northern Iowa. Mike Stalowy paces ISU with a .342 batting average, 28 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a .533 slugging percentage. Ryan Court is hitting .324 while contributing 25 driven in. Jim Brownlee is in his 30th and final season as a college head coach, including spending the last six seasons at ISU, his alma mater.

Freshman right-hander Zach Morton (0-5, ERA) is scheduled to be opposed by senior righty Quinn Ewert (0-3, 9.78 ERA) on the mound.