EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Illinois State squad looks to continue its strong start to Missouri Valley Conference play when it visits struggling Evansville for an afternoon game Saturday at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

The Redbirds (16-8, 1-0 MVC) opened the three-game league series with a shutout victory Friday night. They will face a Purple Aces team (5-17, 0-1) mired in a five-game losing streak.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CDT under cloudy skies with a temperature near 48 degrees.

Illinois State, which has won seven of its last 10, is projected by Interstat’s game simulator to win 8-2. The Redbirds’ offense will look to rebound after being held to three hits in an 11-0 non-conference loss to Iowa on Tuesday.

A player to watch for the Redbirds is right-hander Carson Cormier. In his last start, also against Iowa, he allowed three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. He has shown swing-and-miss stuff, recording 27 strikeouts in his last 17 2/3 innings pitched across six appearances.

Evansville, which has lost 12 of its last 14, managed just one run in its series opener. The Purple Aces have been outscored 45-12 during their current five-game skid.

They will look to right-hander Owen Byberg to provide stability. Byberg has been effective in stretches, most recently throwing four scoreless innings of relief at California Baptist on March 22. However, control has been an issue, as he has walked 11 batters in his last 10 2/3 innings.

The teams will conclude the series Sunday afternoon. Illinois State travels to face Illinois next Tuesday, while Evansville hosts a doubleheader against Butler and Indiana.