Feb. 16, 2012
Official Big Ten Release
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -The Big Ten Network announced its baseball and softball television and Student U broadcast schedules on Wednesday, with the Illini squads combining to make 18 appearances during the 2012 season. Three Illinois baseball games will be aired on BTN and six will be streamed online through the Student U initiative, while the Illini softball team is scheduled to have five network contests and an additional five Student U events.
On Friday, March 23, BTN will air the series-opener between the Illini and Nebraska, the Huskers' first Big Ten baseball game, at 6:30 p.m. CT. Illinois' games at Penn State at 11 a.m. on May 13 and home against Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. on May 17 also will be aired live on BTN. Head coach Dan Hartleb's team appears on Student U against Mississippi Valley State on March 31 and April 1, Indiana on April 8, Southern Illinois on May 1 and Michigan State on May 6.
The Illini softball team is scheduled to host Wisconsin on April 14 for a pair of BTN contests beginning at 4 p.m., before heading to Michigan on April 28 for a TV doubleheader that starts at 3:30 p.m. For their final appearance on the network, the Illini host Penn State on Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. The Orange and Blue play on Student U initially during their first midweek home contest, when the Illini host Indiana State on March 28. Also streamed through Student U will be the April 17 game against Western Illinois, a doubleheader against Purdue on April 21 and Illinois' May 2 contest against in-state rival Southern Illinois.
In addition to their contests shown on the BTN and Student U, Illini baseball and softball also will receive radio coverage on the Illini Sports Network flagship station WDWS AM-1400. Beginning with the Big Ten opener at Nebraska on March 23, the Illinois baseball will have its final 36 regular-season contests and all postseason action broadcast on the Illini Sports Network. Veteran play-by-play man Dave Loane returns for his 24th year behind the microphone and he will be joined by a number of guest analysts at home games. All but two contests will be aired live in their entirety with the exceptions being games on April 21 and May 5 that will be joined in progress upon the completion of the preceding Illini softball broadcasts. All games will be available to stream online at FightingIllini.com through the All-Access subscription service.
Three Illini softball contests will be aired by the Illini Sports Network: April 4 vs. Illinois State and the first games of doubleheaders against Purdue on April 21 and Penn State on May 5. These broadcasts also will be streamed online through the All-Access service on FightingIllini.com.
Admission and parking for all home baseball and softball contests will be free throughout the 2012 season. BTN Student U is the conference initiative by which Big Ten students produce and announce events that are streamed live online at http://btn.com.
Illinois Baseball BTN and Student U Schedule
Date Opponent Time Broadcast Platform
March 23 Nebraska 6:30 p.m. Big Ten Network
March 31 Mississippi Valley St. 1 p.m. Student U
April 1 Mississippi Valley St. 12 p.m. Student U
April 8 Indiana 1 p.m. Student U
May 1 Southern Illinois 6 p.m. Student U
May 6 Michigan State 1 p.m. Student U
May 13 Penn State 11 a.m. Big Ten Network
May 17 Minnesota 6:30 p.m. Big Ten Network
Illinois Softball BTN and Student U Schedule
Date Opponent Time Broadcast Platform
March 28 Indiana State 6 p.m. Student U
April 17 Western Illinois 7 p.m. Student U
April 14 Wisconsin (DH) 4/6 p.m. Big Ten Network
April 21 Purdue (DH) 1/3 p.m. Student U
April 28 Michigan (DH) 2:30/4:30 p.m. Big Ten Network
May 2 Southern Illinois 4 p.m. Student U
May 6 Penn State 2 p.m. Big Ten Network
