March 5, 2009
Illinois-LSU Notes 
Games 7-9 //  #1 LSU // ALEX BOX STADIUM
March 6 // 7 PM
March 7 // 2 PM
March 8 // 11 AM
Series Insider
ILLINOIS (5-1) at #1 Louisiana State (9-0)
Live Stats: Live stats on fightingillini.com
Live Video/Audio: Available on lsusports.net / registration required
Series: LSU leads series 13-6-2
Last Meeting: LSU swept series 3-0 (3/15-16/77)
Streak: L6
Game 1 Probables
Illinois: Phil Haig (LHP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA)
LSU: Anthony Ranaudo (RHP, 2-0, 1.59 ERA)
Game 2 Probables
Illinois: Aaron Martin (RHP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LSU: Daniel Bradshaw (RHP, 0-0, 1.35 ERA) or Austin Ross (RHP, 2-0, 0.75 ERA)
Game 3 Probables
Illinois: Ben Reeser (RHP, 1-0, 2.53 ERA)
LSU: Austin Ross (RHP, 2-0, 0.75 ERA) or Daniel Bradshaw (RHP, 0-0, 1.35 ERA)
Illinois is...
...on a four-game winning streak
...5-0 when leading after the seventh inning
...3-0 in day games
... 4-1 when scoring in the first inning
... 4-1 when scoring first
... 4-0 when out-hitting its opponent
... 4-0 when a starter gets the decision
Illini Line Drives
• Pitching Produces Early: Illinois currently has a 2.72 staff ERA after finishing 2008 with a staff ERA of 6.44. Phil Haig, Aaron Martin, and Ben Reeser - this weekend's probable starters - have combined for a 0.77 ERA thus far.
• Rookie Above Parr: Freshman second baseman Josh Parr was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week and to the College Baseball Foundation National All-Star Lineup after hitting .700 with five RBIs and a four-hit game last weekend. For the season, he's hitting .476 and is perfect defensively.
• Lineup Consistency Breeds Success: Illinois has used the same lineup and batting order for each of the last five games, going 4-1 in that span.
• Something's Gotta Give: Two teams that like to put runners in motion will square off this weekend, as No. 1 LSU not only can hit for power, but they also have stolen 30-of-35 bases in nine games. Meanwhile, the Illini are 11-of-16 on the basepaths so far this year. Neither team has allowed more than five stolen bases, though.
Illini Head to Bayou for Series with #1 LSU
Illinois continues its early-season travels with a trip to Baton Rouge, La., to face No. 1 Louisiana State in a three-game series. The Tigers are 9-0 after dispatching New Orleans, 19-3, and Mississippi Valley State - 10-4 after a seven-run rally in the bottom of the eighth - in a pair of midweek contests. They also swept three from Villanova and Central Florida so far this season as well as a midweek conquest of Southern on Feb. 25.
Standing-room-only tickets remain for all three games at the new Alex Box Stadium, which has a capacity of 9,200 and housed over 27,000 fans for the season-opening series against Villanova. Live stats will be available on FightingIllini.com, via LSUsports.net, and LSU's site also will have live audio and video for all three games through a payment service.
Illinois' History Against Bayou Bengals
Illinois is 6-13-2 all-time against LSU, with all 21 games being played in Baton Rouge. The Illini haven't faced LSU since 1977, when the Tigers swept a three-game series, and LSU has won six straight against the Orange and Blue. Illinois' last win in the series came on March 22, 1948, Illinois' season-opener that year.
The weekend also marks the Illini's first games against a top-ranked team since going 1-2 at No. 1 Miami on March 3-5, 1995. The last top-5 team that Illinois faced was No. 3 Houston on March 3-5, 2000, when the Illini took two of three from the Cougars in Houston. Current volunteer assistant coach Drew Dickinson pitched 1/3 of an inning in Illinois' 4-3 win over No. 3 Houston on March 3, 2000.
Last Week: Al Ogletree Classic
Illinois won the Al Ogletree Classic in Edinburg, Texas, last week, going 3-0 against Texas-Pan American, Stephen F. Austin and Texas-Arlington. The Fighting Illini pitching staff was excellent, compiling a staff ERA of 0.67 with a batting average against of .186. Phil Haig started the dominance with seven shutout innings of three-hit ball on Friday, Aaron Martin didn't allow an earned run in eight innings on Saturday and Ben Reeser had six strikeouts and no walks in 7 2/3 on Sunday. The Illini bullpen also shined, allowing just one run in 4 1/3 innings of work. At the plate, freshman second baseman Josh Parr hit .700 with a team-best five RBIs, while sophomore DH Pete Cappetta reached base at a .417 clip and stole a pair of bases. Parr also recorded a 4-for-4 night against UTPA.
Pitching Leads Way Early in Season
Although it was a question mark heading into the season, pitching has been a strong suit for the Fighting Illini through the first two weekends. Weekend starters Phil Haig and Aaron Martin haven't allowed an earned run in 24 innings of work, allowing just one base runner per inning between them. Meanwhile, four relievers - John Anderson, Blake Fairchild, Corey Kimes and Lee Zerrusen - also have posted 0.00 ERAs in five combined innings of work. So far, starters have accounted for 65 percent of Illinois' innings pitched.
Illini Take Hitting Shoes on First Trip
For those who wondered who would fill the shoes of departed center fielder Kyle Hudson, DH Daniel Webb and first baseman Ryan Hastings from the 2008 squad, the new version of the Fighting Illini looked to be in midseason form during the first weekend of 2009. Illinois scored 32 runs in three games, the most on a season's first weekend since 2000 when it scored 47, and had seven extra-base hits. The Illini reached base at an incredible .445 clip, drawing 22 walks while striking out only 13 times. The Illini were especially strong with runners on base, hitting .421, and hit .400 with runners in scoring position. Illinois also brought home a runner from third with less than two outs 15 of 20 times (75 percent) and advanced runners at a rate of 68.9 percent.
Haig, Martin Baffle Hitters
Pitchers Phil Haig and Aaron Martin have been stellar in their first two outings this season, both posting 0.00 ERAs to this point. First, the duo combined to keep Iowa hitters off-balance all night in the teams' season-opener, not allowing an earned run the entire game while striking out nine. Then, Haig tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball against Texas-Pan American on Feb. 27 and Martin followed that with eight innings without an earned run vs. Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 28. The pair is combining to use just 3.5 pitches per batter and has allowed just two hits with runners on base (2-for-37, .054). Haig has thrown a first-pitch strike to two-thirds of the batters he's faced and has limited hitters to just a .083 average with two outs (1-for-12).
Illini Strong in the Middle
Illinois has been especially effective during the middle innings so far, outscoring its opponents 29-5 in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. That helped offset their opponents' 16-7 advantage in the late innings.
*Complete game notes in attached PDF file.
