Fighting Illini baseball wraps up this four-game road trip with a midweek contest against Illinois State on Tuesday. First pitch from Duffy Bass Field is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
This is the second and final meeting between the programs this season, with Illinois State coming away with a 12-9 victory at Illinois Field on April 4.
The Illini are coming off a third-straight series loss, with Northwestern taking two of three in Evanston this past weekend.
The starters for both teams are to be announced.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Illinois State
• Record: 57-35 (H: 33-18, A: 24-17)
• Last: L, 12-9 (4/4/23 at Illinois Field)
• Illinois has won 10 of last 13 since 2015
• Illinois has won 13 of last 17 since 2012
NOTES
• Illinois makes the short trip to Normal, Ill., to take on Illinois State for the second and final time this season at Duffy Bass Field.
» The Illini fell to the Redbirds, 12-9, at Illinois Field on April 4.
» Illinois has won 10 of last 13 matchups since 2015.
» The Illini have dropped two-straight in Normal...last win on the road came on April 11, 2017.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb earned win No. 519 on April 2 against Michigan, passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history.
» Hartleb reached 500 career wins on May 7, 2022, with a win over Miami (0H).
• Illinois dropped its third-straight Big Ten series to Northwestern over the weekend.
» The Illini have lost three-straight series after winning six-straight dating back to last season.
» Illinois had not lost three-straight three-game series since 2018.
» The Illini did not homer in the series...the three-game stretch without a home run in a season-high stretch...longest such stretch since a three-game drought from May 7-8, 2022, which also spanned three games.
• OF Cam McDonald went 7-for-14 (.500) in the series against Northwestern...collected two RBI and reached base at a .500 clip.
» Extended his hitting streak to seven games...has multi-hit performances in three-straight games...is batting .375 (12-for-32) during that span with five RBI.
» Second time this season he has had a hitting streak reach at least seven games.
• RHP Riley Gowens did not factor into the decision in Friday's game at Northwestern, where he worked 6.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits to go along with 10 strikeouts.
» Was his second quality start of the season and his first since March 17 vs. Southern Illinois.
» Third double-digit strikeout performance of the season...second 10-strikeout, no-walks performance.
» Ranks fifth among Big Ten arms with 55 strikeouts on the year.
• Illinois has 22 returners and 14 newcomers on the 2023 roster.
» Eight newcomers are transfers: RHP Korey Bunselmeyer (Rend Lake), RHP TJ Constertina (St. Thomas), LHP John Lundgren (North Alabama), INF Coltin Quagliano (Illinois Central), C Jacob Schroeder (John A. Logan), OF Christian Smith (Vanderbilt), RHP Logan Tabeling (Wright State) and INF Drake Westcott (Louisville).
• The Illini return three all-Big Ten selections: Branden Comia (2nd), Cam McDonald (2nd) and Danny Doligale (3rd).
• Big Ten Preseason Honors: RHP Jack Crowder, RHP Riley Gowens, OF Cam McDonald.
• D1Baseball Big Ten top 2023 MLB Draft prospects: No. 23 RHP Jack Crowder
• D1Baseball top players:
» RHP Riley Gowens - SP No. 167
» INF Branden Comia - 3B No. 29
» OF Danny Doligale - OF No. 102
» OF Cam McDonald - OF No. 145
• Perfect Game Preseason Big Ten All-Conference: OF Cam McDonald.
• Perfect Game Big Ten top 2023 MLB Draft prospects: No. 24 Cam McDonald, No. 34 Branden Comia.
• Illinois' new $8-million, 26,000-square foot Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center opened in September 2022.
UP NEXT
The Illini begin a season-long eight-game homestand on Friday with a three-game series against Indiana. First pitch from Illinois Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.
