NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont Baseball opens the 2011 season with a four game series against defending Missouri Valley Champion Illinois State this weekend. With the new E.S. Rose Park still under construction, all four games of the weekend will be played at last year's home venue, Shelby Park.
With plenty of talent returning from last year's club, the Bruins are looking to return to the Atlantic Sun Tournament this year after just missing out on postseason action a season ago.
Belmont leads the all-time series with Illinois State by a mark of 3-1. After defeating the Redbirds at home by a score of 4-2 during the 2005 season, the two squads did not meet again until a three game series in 2009. Just like this weekend, the teams opened the season against each other in Nashville two years ago. Belmont took that series two games to one with wins of 4-2 and 9-7.
Illinois State defeated Wichita State to win its first Missouri Valley Conference Championship since 1994 last spring. Earlier this spring, they were picked by the coaches to defend their title. After a win over Saint Louis and two losses to Vanderbilt, the Redbirds were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in 2010. In 2011 Illinois State will be led by redshirt junior Kevin Tokarski, who was named to both the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America Teams this spring. The second baseman led the Redbirds with a .412 batting average, 25 doubles and 53 RBI last season en route to earning MVC Player of the Year honors.
Live Stats for the weekend series between the Bruins and the Redbirds can be followed at BelmontBruins.com, and all of the action can be heard with play-by-play from Rich Tiner at BelmontBruins.com as well.
Game Notes - Belmont vs. Illinois State
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