SIUE (19-16) at
Illinois State (16-22)
Tue., April 27, 1 p.m.
Duffy Bass Field
Normal, Illinois
SIUE: RHP Brian Chandler (0-1, 10.24)
ISU: RHP Jack Anderson (1-3, 6.00)
SCHEDULE CHANGE: First pitch has been moved up to 1 p.m.
WIN TOTAL: SIUE's 19 wins are tied for third most in the Ohio Valley Conference. The next win would be SIUE's 20th of the season, marking the first time since 2017 SIUE has won 20 games in a season.
STANDINGS: The Cougars begin the week sixth in the OVC. SIUE is percentage points behind Belmont and Austin Peay, who are tied for fourth in the league. Only the top four teams advance to this year's OVC Championship.
LAST WEEK: SIUE lost two of three in a road series at Austin Peay
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brady Bunten was named the OVC co-Player of the Week April 12 after hitting .333 (5-15) with a double, four home runs and 10 RBIs. It was his second selection, after also being picked March 29.
TEAM TOTALS: SIUE is second in the OVC with a .283 batting average. The Cougars lead the league in slugging percentage at .459, which is 35th nationally. SIUE is second in the league in total doubles (72) and lead the league at 2.06 doubles per game, which ranks 29th in the NCAA. The Cougars are third in the league in hits at 346. SIUE's 41 home runs is fourth in the OVC and already ranks third most in a season in the Division I era (2009-present). SIUE's team earned run average of 5.66 is fifth in the league.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: Ole Arntson (.336) and Raul Elguezabal (.331) rank 13th and 14th in the OVC in batting average. Elguezabal leads the league with 13 doubles. Arntson is tied for fifth with nine home runs.
SERIES STUFF: The Cougars and Redbirds are meeting for the 24th time. Illinois State leads the all-time series 17-5. The Redbirds swept a doubleheader at SIUE February 23 in the season opener for both teams. The Cougars won the last meeting in Normal, winning 7-2 in a single game in 2018.
