Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina returns home for its second nonconference weekend series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, hosting the Illinois State Redbirds out of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) for a three-game set beginning on Friday, Feb. 25. Due to morning rain, the series opener has been bumped to a 5 p.m. start on Friday with Saturday's game scheduled for 2 p.m., and the concluding on Sunday with the first pitch at 1 p.m.
 
At present, Friday's series opener and Sunday's finale are slated to be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio available online at CatamountSports.com. Live stats for each home game are available through a link on the online baseball schedule, with in-game updates also available online through social media on Twitter using the handle, @CatamountBSB.
 
Western Carolina (4-1) looks to bounce back after a midweek setback in its first road game of the season, falling at USC Upstate on Wednesday evening after the Spartans plated six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally from a 3-2 deficit. WCU swept Niagara in four straight to open the season at home.
 
The Catamounts enter the weekend averaging 15.0 runs per game, scoring 75 runs through their first five games this spring, while batting a SoCon-leading .382 with 14 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. WCU pitching has recorded 52 strikeouts over the first 44 innings of the season, limiting its first two opponents to an average of 4.2 runs per game on 34 base hits.

Four of WCU's regular starters have opened the season above the .400 threshold at the plate, led by senior infielder Will Prater with a .500 average (9-for-18). Sophomore Pascanel Ferreras, the SoCon's preseason Player of the Year, and senior Bryson Parks both have 10 hits including three doubles and a home run to account for .455 batting averages. Sophomore outfielder Nate Stocum leads WCU with 10 RBI through the first five games of the season – already three RBI shy of his seasonal total from a year ago (13 in 26 games played 2021).
 
Illinois State (1-2) comes to Cullowhee after dropping 2-of-3 in its season-opening series at second-ranked Arkansas as the Redbirds stunned the Razorbacks, 3-2, in the first game of the set. Illinois State dropped the next two in the series by a mere six combined runs, falling 5-1 and 4-2 against the SEC-foe in Fayetteville, Ark.
 
The Redbirds batted .230 (23-for-100) on opening weekend at Arkansas with six extra-base hits including five doubles and a home run. Preseason first-team All-MVC outfielder sophomore Ryan Cermak led Illinois State with a .455 (5-for-11) average with a double and a homer. He was joined on the 2022 preseason all-conference team by redshirt junior first-baseman Jake McCaw. Reliever Jared Hart earned MVC Pitcher of the Week plaudits after a pair of 2.0 inning, three strikeout appearances.
 
The weekend series marks the first-ever meetings between WCU and Illinois State, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, on the baseball diamond. Like WCU, the Redbirds were picked third in their preseason conference rankings. Illinois State was behind favorite Dallas Baptist and runner-up Indiana State, tied with in-state foe Southern Illinois.
 
Additional Game Day Information:

• This weekend marks the first baseball games where admission will be charged … Tickets are $11 for an adult reserved ticket, $8 for youth (ages 12 and under) reserved ticket … General admission tickets are $6 for an adult and $4 for youth (ages 12 and under) … Purchase tickets online in advance at CatamountSports.com;
• Reminders that the chairback seats in both the field level and upper grandstands are reserved for those season ticket holders … the General Admission ticket areas are located in the upper grandstands on both the first and third baselines … WCU students are encouraged to fill the "Cat Cage" student section, available in Section C along field level behind home plate – this is a first-come, first-serve section for WCU's students;
• WCU has implemented a "Clear Bag Policy" at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Any alcoholic beverages, outside food and beverages, and other items not permitted in the stadium must be discarded before entering the stadium seating areas;
• Fans are encouraged to utilize the new parking garage directly behind the stadium when coming to Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, or also continue to utilize the south baseball lot beyond the outfield fence. Please be reminded that tailgating of any sort is prohibited in the parking garage.

 
Both season and single-game tickets are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, or online at CatamountSports.com. Offering the best available deals, season ticket packages include general admission tickets for the upper grandstand bleacher areas, or reserved chairback seating options along the field level or directly behind home plate in the upper, covered seating areas.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
 
 
Game 1: - Friday, Feb. 25 | 4:00 p.m.  |  Coverage: Listen LIVE  |  Live Stats
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 5.0 IP, 7K, 1BB)
Illinois State – RHP Jordan Lussier (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.1 IP, 2 K, 0 BB)

Game 2: - Saturday, Feb. 26 | 2:00 p.m.  |  Coverage: Live Stats
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – LHP Eric Wallington (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 5.0 IP, 7K, 1BB)
Illinois State – LHP Sean Sinisko (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2K, 2BB)

Game 3: - Sunday, Feb. 27 | 1:00 p.m.  |  Coverage: Listen LIVE  |  Live Stats
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (1-0, 0.00, 5.0 IP, 7K, 2BB)
Illinois State – RHP Derek Salata (0-1, 5.79 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3K, 3BB)