HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — The Illinois State Redbirds look to continue their strong start to the season when they visit the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a nonconference baseball game Wednesday at Bulldog Field.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature of 47 degrees.

Illinois State (5-2) enters with momentum, having won four of its last five games. The Redbirds are coming off a 5-3 loss to Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, but reliever Henry Brummel was a bright spot, throwing two hitless innings with two strikeouts. First baseman Michael Carrano Jr. provided the offense with a two-run homer.

Brummel, a player to watch for the Redbirds, has not allowed a run in his last two appearances.

Alabama A&M (2-5) seeks to rebound after an 8-5 loss to Northern Kentucky on Sunday. Bulldogs pitcher Brady Baxter delivered a solid start in that game, allowing two earned runs over four innings with five strikeouts. Relievers Avery Seaton and Will Tarpley also provided scoreless outings.

Baxter is a key player for the Bulldogs, having shown swing-and-miss ability with five strikeouts in his last start.

The teams are on contrasting trajectories. Illinois State’s early schedule includes a 12-1 win over Massachusetts-Lowell and a 9-5 victory at SIU Edwardsville. Alabama A&M has struggled defensively, allowing 10 or more runs in three of its losses, including a 19-2 defeat at Middle Tennessee.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Illinois State is projected to win 7-2.

Following this game, Illinois State travels to Murfreesboro for a three-game series at Middle Tennessee beginning Friday. Alabama A&M heads to Cookeville, Tennessee, for a weekend tournament where it will face Notre Dame on Friday and Illinois-Chicago on Sunday, with a single game at Tennessee Tech on Saturday.