A trip to Illinois State just might be what the doctor had in order for the Illinois baseball team.

Having lost 10 out of their last 13 games, the Illini (16-16, 4-8 Big Ten) head to Bloomington, Ill., tonight to take on an even more struggling Illinois State team. Illinois State enters tonight’s game 10 games under .500 and losers of five of its last eight games.

“Illinois State is still going to be a good team,” head coach Dan Hartleb said. “I know they have struggled a little bit at times, but they will be a very competitive team.”

While the Illini have struggled to add wins to their record the last two weeks, it hasn’t been because of a lack of effort or hustle – things coach Hartleb feels the team gives plenty of on the field.

“I’ve told the team I’m proud of them,” Hartleb said. “Nobody likes losing. It hurts them to lose and it hurts me to lose. But I’m proud of the way they play. They play hard every day and never quit.”

Of Illinois’ last five games, three have ended in one run losses for the team, including a wild 19-18 loss last Friday night to Northwestern. Despite the close calls the Illini have experienced of late, Hartleb feels they can benefit from their heartbreakers and are on the brink of turning their fortune around.

“We’re gaining great experience by being in these one run games,” Hartleb said. “If you keep battling and believing in yourself, then those things will turn around and will be in our favor pretty soon.”

After ending its five-game losing streak in a rain-shortened game Sunday against Northwestern, Illinois is hoping a trip to Bloomington will provide them with its second win in a row and the start of another winning streak. But it isn’t planning on overlooking the Redbirds by any means.

“We treat every game the same,” junior outfielder Ryan Snowden said. “No game is less important than any other. We are just trying to get back on a winning streak. We had an eight-game winning streak going earlier in the year and we are just trying to put something like that together again.”

While Illinois State has had a disappointing season to this point, the Redbirds have had the Illini’s number in the past recent years. Over the last six seasons Illinois State is 4-1 against the Illini. The lone win for Illinois came on April 30, 2002 when the Illini downed the Redbirds 7-6 at Illinois Field.

“I don’t know much about Illinois State, but I’m sure they are a solid team,” Snowden said. “They are a team in our home state and you never want to lose to a team in your state. We have to go out and play hard and get a win.”