| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Indiana State |
| Fri., 6 p.m. CT |
RHP Cole Bellair (1-2, 8.02) |
RHP Will Kincanon (1-2, 7.96) |
| Sat., 3Â p.m. CT |
RHP Ty Weber (1-2, 4.54) |
RHP Tyler Ward (2-1, 4.28) |
| Sun., 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Luke Shilling (1-2, 7.33) |
TBA |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A promotion-filled weekend is on deck for the Illinois baseball team when Indiana State visits Illinois Field. Super Hero Night (Friday), Kids Club Day (Saturday), Bark in the Park (Sunday) are all happening Friday-Sunday.
Illinois (6-16, 0-3 Big Ten) is looking to get back on track after dropping four straight games. The Illini opened conference play last weekend and were swept by Michigan State, before Bradley shut out Illinois 2-0 Tuesday.
The Illini, which head to nationally-ranked Michigan next weekend, will start Cole Bellair, Ty Weber and Luke Shilling on the mound.
Indiana State (12-9, 0-0 Missouri Valley) is riding a five-game winning streak, most recently beating Indiana 7-3 away from home Wednesday. The Sycamores are hitting .282 as a team and have four regulars hitting over .300. Senior outfielder Tony Rosselli leas the team with a .414 batting average and four triples and also has two homers and 15 RBIs.
Friday's and Sunday's games will be broadcast BTN Plus (subscribe). Saturday's game will not have a live video broadcast.
PROMOTIONS
Friday // Super Hero Night
Fans are encouraged to wear super hero costumes and gear for a theme day at the park that will include super hero festivities and music. Fans that come dressed in super hero attire will receive Fighting Illini sunglasses! A mask-making station will be available located at Fighting Illini Fan HQ, directly behind the press box.
Saturday // Kids Club Day
Members of the Fighting Illini Kids Club are invited to join Illinois baseball for a behind-the-scenes tour of the press box and the team's clubhouse. To pre-register your child for the event, click here. The Fighting Illini Kids Club will also be hosting an information table and distributing free snow cones to all fans.
Sunday // Bark in the Park
Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the ballpark for an afternoon of Illinois baseball. Gates open at 12Â p.m., and first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
NOTES
• Friday and Sunday's games are available on BTN Plus. BTN Plus is an online streaming service that requires an additional subscription not included with BTN network TV packages. BTN Plus content features live games produced by students at Big Ten universities, commonly referred to as "Student U" broadcasts. Saturday's game will not have a live video stream.
• 170 1/3 of Illinois' 192 innings pitched have been by freshmen or sophomores (88.7%).
• 148 of Illinois' 202 hits have been by freshmen or sophomores (73.3%). Freshmen have 38 hits, all by Massey and Troike.
• Illinois has started freshman shortstop Ben Troike and freshman second baseman Michael Massey during every game. Troike and Massey are the only Illini to start every game at the same position.
• Michael Massey is the 36th toughest player to strikeout in the nation (13.0 AB/SO) and ranks fifth in the nation among freshmen.
• Ben Troike ranks 51st in the nation in strikeout rate (14.8 AB/SO) and 10th among freshmen.
• Illinois has outhit opponents in 13 of 22 games.
• Illinois is 0-14 when scoring six or fewer runs. The Illini are 2-7 in games decided by two or fewer runs.
• Pat McInerney ranks second in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.667) and home runs (8). He is behind Iowa's Jake Adams (.678 SLG%, 9 HR) in each category.
• McInerney ranks 16th in the NCAA in home runs (8). McInerney has already surpassed his home run total from last year (7) with eight homers in 2017 after hitting three homers in three games against Michigan State last weekend.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Sauget, Illinois, Tuesday for the annual Braggin' Rights game against Mizzou. A trip to nationally-ranked Michigan is scheduled for Friday-Sunday.
