The Illinois State baseball team will open the 2022 season with a three-game set at second-ranked Arkansas, marking the first time the Redbirds have ever started the season with a ranked opponent and the first time since 2004 that ISU has opened with a Power Five school. 

Illinois State adds 17 players (5 freshmen, 12 transfers) to its roster for the 2022 season. Key contributors are expected to be Charlotte transfer RHP Kolton Scherbenske, Cabrillo College transfer C Adrian Flores, Sacramento City College transfer SS Greg Nichols, among others. The Redbirds also expected to return a healthy RHP Mason Burns (shoulder), LHP Trey Krause (Ewing's Sarcoma), and RF Jonathan Sabotnik (redshirt) from its 2021 roster.

Arkansas went 50-13 in 2022, winning the SEC and going 30-8 at home. The Razorbacks fell in the Super Regional to NC State.

ISU turns to right-hander Jordan Lussier in Friday afternoon's game. In 2021 Lussier finished 6-3, 74.1 IP, 67 K, 4.36 ERA, earning Honorable Mention All-MVC in 2021. LHP Sean Sinisko gets the ball Saturday. He went 5-5, 71.0 IP, 52 K, 4.44 ERA in 2021 also earning Honorable Mention All-MVC. Derek Salata makes his first career start Sunday.  In 2021 he came out of the bullpen to go 2-4, 36.1 IP, 31 K, 4.95 ERA.