The Illinois State baseball team will return to Tennessee for the second weekend in a row, this time for a three-game series at Memphis, beginning Friday, after posting a 2-1 record at the Riverview Inn Governors Challenge last weekend in Clarksville, Tennessee.

 

Friday's 4 p.m. series opener will be followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday and a 1 p.m. series finale on Sunday. All three games will be played at Memphis' FedEx Park.

 

Illinois State (2-1) posted wins in its first and last games at the Governors Challenge last weekend, as the Redbirds topped Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State, 17-7, in their season opener on Feb. 17, and Youngstown State, 13-7, in their final game in Clarksville. The Redbirds' lone loss came at the hands of tournament host Austin Peay, which prevailed by a 9-4 score on Feb. 18.

 

Junior transfer Bryce Grimm tallied six hits in 12 at-bats for the Redbirds over the first weekend of play, while redshirt sophomore Ryan Hutchinson posted a .688 on-base percentage as he drew a team-high seven walks. Mitch Vogrin highlighted a stellar bullpen effort in the win over Youngstown State as the junior struck out a career-high six batters to earn the pitching win.

 

Illinois State will go with right-handers Jack Landwehr and David Meade to start the games on Friday and Saturday at Memphis. Sunday's starter has not yet been determined. Memphis (1-2) will counter with right-hander Tyler Walton on Friday, left-hander Drew Crosby on Saturday and right-hander Connor Alexander on Sunday.