EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Illinois State squad and a struggling Evansville team will open a Missouri Valley Conference series under clear skies Friday at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

The Redbirds (16-8) enter having won nine of their last 11, including a three-game sweep of Belmont last weekend. They were shut out 11-0 by Iowa on Tuesday, but prior to that had averaged 7.6 runs per game during their hot stretch.

The Purple Aces (5-17) have lost five straight and 12 of their last 13 games. They were outscored 30-10 in a three-game series at California Baptist last weekend. Evansville’s pitching staff carries a collective ERA of 8.14.

A key matchup will feature Illinois State right-hander Carson Cormier against Evansville right-hander Owen Byberg. Cormier has been a versatile arm for the Redbirds, logging 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts in his last start against Iowa. Byberg has shown flashes, tossing four scoreless innings against Milwaukee on March 1, but has struggled with command in other outings.

Illinois State’s offense is led by a core that powered the recent sweep of Belmont. Evansville’s Simon Schulz, who had two hits and an RBI in the series finale at California Baptist, is a bright spot in a lineup hitting .245 as a team.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-2 Illinois State victory, giving the Redbirds a 53% probability to win according to its ELO rating system.

First pitch is scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026, with game-time temperatures expected near 84 degrees. The series continues Saturday and Sunday.