NOTEBOOK (PDF)
After two weeks of non-conference action, the Missouri Valley Conference sports a 25-21 (.543) record against non-conference foes. Five of the league's eight teams have three or fewer losses, led by Indiana State's 6-0 record.
Still Unbeaten...
Indiana State improved to 6-0 on the season, claiming wins over UNC-Wilmington, Marshall and Iona over the weekend. The Sycamores are one of 17 remaining unblemished teams in NCAA DI baseball entering play Monday.
WarrenNolan.com Rankings
While it is still early in the season, WarrenNolan.com has the Missouri Valley Conference ranked as the No. 4 conference in league RPI.
Top 5 RPI
1. SEC
2. Pac 12
3. ACC
4. Missouri Valley
5. Sun Belt
WarrenNolan.com also has four teams ranked in the RPI’s top-100, led by Indiana State (No. 5), Bradley (No. 50), Southern Illinois (No. 73) and Illinois State (No. 92).
Strong Pitching for Trees
The pitching staff for the Sycamores has been outstanding through six games this season, allowing just 11 earned runs in 54 innings of work while a 1.83 team ERA ranks 10th best in the nation. Over the last three games, Indiana State recorded a pair of shutouts and has allowed just one earned run.
Home Series Success
DBU is 30-2 in weekend series at Horner Ballpark dating back to 2015. The Patriots earned their first-ever series win against Minnesota this weekend and on Friday defeated the Golden Gophers for the first time since 1987.
High Scoring Redbirds
Illinois State ranks eighth nationally in runs per game, averaging 10.7 through the first two weeks of play.
VS. 2018 NCAA Tourney Teams
The league went 3-4 against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams during the second weekend after going 6-0 during the opening week of action (DBU sweep of Kent State and Indiana State sweep of Jacksonville).
DBU claimed a 2-1 series win over Minnesota, while dropping a single game at Oklahoma. Indiana State also won a game against a team from last year’s tourney field, claiming a 1-0 win at UNC-Wilmington. Evansville fell to #1 Vanderbilt 5-4 and Missouri State dropped a 7-0 decision to Cal State Fullerton. So far in 2019, the MVC is 9-4 against the 2018 field.
This week's Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Player/Pitcher of the Week are Bradley's Andy Shadid and DBU's Jordan Martinson, respectively.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Andy Shadid, Sr., OF, Bradley
Bradley’s Andy Shadid delivered 10th-inning RBI’s in both of Bradley’s two wins last week. In Thursday’s 5-3 victory at Austin Peay, Shadid came through with a two-run single in the 10th to lead the Braves to the road win in the opening game of the Nashville-area SAF Dirt Classic. Shadid was 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday’s 1-0 loss in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader at Middle Tennessee State. In Sunday’s nightcap, Shadid was 2-for-5 with another stolen base and a RBI triple in the 10th inning, lifting the Braves to a 2-1 win.
Other Notable Performances: Luke Bandy (DBU); Danny Borgstrom (UE); Roby Enriquez (INS); Blake Billinger (VALPO)
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Jordan Martinson, Sr., LHP, DBU
DBU senior Jordan Martinson continued his scoreless streak Friday with six shutout innings in a 9-0 win over Minnesota. The senior lefthander struck out a season-high eight Gophers while walking just one and allowing four hits, three of which stayed on the infield.
Other Notable Performances: Allan Beer (BRAD); Shane Gray (UE); Jeff Lindgren (ILS); Tyler Whitbread (INS); Dylan Givens (SIU)