CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel baseball team welcomes Indiana State to Joe Riley Park this weekend for a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 16. The series will continue with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, March 17 and the two programs will wrap up the series on Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m.

Weekend Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 16 – Joe Riley Park – 6 p.m. - Live Stats - Live Video - Tickets
RHP Dylan Spence (0-1, 3.65 ERA, 24.2 IP) vs. RHP Tyler Ward (2-1, 5.50 ERA, 18 IP)

Saturday, March 17 –Joe Riley Park – 2 p.m. - Live Stats - Live Video - Tickets
RHP Jordan Merritt (1-1, 7.64 ERA, 17.2 IP) vs. LHP Triston Polley (3-1, 2.42 ERA, 26 IP)

Sunday March 18 – Joe Riley Park - 1 p.m. - Live Stats - Live Video - Tickets
RHP Alex Bialakis (2-0, 1.89 ERA, 19 IP) vs. LHP Tristan Weaver (1-1, 8.16 ERA, 14.1 IP)

The Citadel enters the weekend having won three of their last five games, including a 2-1 weekend series win over UConn last weekend. Most recently, the Bulldogs defeated Richmond 5-2 on Wednesday, March 14 to avenge a 17-3 loss to the Spiders during the first weekend of the season.

The Citadel and Indiana State have met eight times on the baseball diamond heading into this weekend's series. The Sycamores hold a 6-2 record over the Bulldogs with all eight games having been played in Charleston. The two programs last met in 2010 with Indiana State claiming a three-game series 2-1.

Indiana State enters the weekend with an 8-5 record. The Sycamores are riding a three-game winning streak that includes a series win over Western Illinois after the third game of that series was canceled. Indiana State is 6-5 on the road and has won five of their first seven games this season, including a 2-2 record at a tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. The Sycamores are currently batting .281 as a team. ISU has scored 104 runs on the year and has 39 extra-base hits, including 15 home runs. On the base paths, the Sycamores have swiped nine base on 12 attempts. The pitching staff boasts a 4.60 earned run average with 97 strikeouts compared to 58 walks.

Jarrod Watkins leads the way at the plate for Indiana State with a.375 average off 21 hits. Close behind him is Luke Fegen with a .353 average and Roberto Enriquez with a .333. Romero Harris leads the team with 13 runs scored and 16 batted in, including a team-best four home runs. Dane Tofteland is second on the team with 13 RBIs and Clay Dungan has scored 12 runs. Tofteland and Dungan have each stolen three bases.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Throughout the 2018 baseball season, fans can take advantage of the following promotions during home weekend series:

• First Responder Fridays - $2 off individual tickets with valid ID (maximum 4).
• Service Saturdays (active duty military, veterans, service groups & non-profits) - $2 off individual tickets (maximum 4).
• Sunday Funday (Family Day) – family groups of 4 or more receive $2 off each ticket.
• Kickin' Chicken Baseball Bingo – Play the all new Kickin' Chicken Baseball Bingo game by picking up cards at Will Call or at the ticket window for chances to win prizes.
• Keep an eye and ear out for the TD Bank Baseball Ball Toss, Charleston Crab House gift card give-aways and be selected for the Ashley Furniture "Best Seats in the Park."
• Select Sundays throughout the season are Kids Run the Bases (following the game) and Kidet Club Kid of the Game First Pitches.

 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs remain at home next week with a single midweek game against South Carolina on Tuesday, March 20. First pitch against the Gamecocks will be at 7 p.m.

For more information on The Citadel baseball team, please follow @CitadelBaseball and @CitadelSports on Twitter or visit CitadelSports.com.