CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini baseball team will begin the 2015 season at the Lamar University Cardinal Classic on Friday, Feb. 13 in Beaumont, Texas. Before the Illini take the field, we will preview each position with how Illinois will look across the diamond. Final group: bullpen.

Tyler Jay (Jr., LHP - Lemont, Ill.)
• USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
• 2015 Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game
• 2015 Preseason Third-Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA
• Second-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-Mideast Region relief pitcher in 2014
• Posted a 4-1 record and was a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities last season
• Led the bullpen with a 1.94 ERA and 47 strikeouts in a team-high 23 appearances (41.2 IP) in 2014
• 5-4 career record with 10 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 41 appearances (62 IP)

Reid Roper (r-Sr., RHP - Harrisburg, Ill.)
• Starting second baseman who also has served as closer, sitting tied for eighth in Illini history with 10 saves
• Named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball as a multiple-position player in 2012
• 2-0 career record with a 2.73 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 30 appearances

Nick Blackburn (Jr., RHP - Naperville, Ill.)
• Went 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 22.2 innings and 18 appearances all out of the bullpen in 2014
• Boasted a 1.74 ERA over his final 16 appearances on the mound last season
• Started six games and pitched four games out of the bullpen in 2013, finishing 2-1 with a 5.17 ERA
• 3-2 career record with a 4.43 ERA in 28 appearances (61 IP)

Cody Sedlock (So., RHP - Sherrard, Ill.)
• Posted a 1-3 record and 3.41 ERA in 12 appearances, including three starts in 2014
• Earned his first career win in his collegiate debut, tossing 4.2 innings of relief at Georgia State (2/15/14)
• Notched 30 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched last season

The Illini have a stable of other arms available for different relief situations.
• Redshirt-junior RHP Charlie Naso (1.53 career ERA in 17.2 IP) did not allow a run in 11 appearances last season.
• Redshirt-junior RHP Andrew Mamlic (2.65 career ERA in 17.0 IP) has 14 strikeouts and three walks for his career.
• Senior LHP Anthony Milazzo (3.57 career ERA in 22.2 IP) has pitched in 21 games over the past three years.
• Junior LHP J.D. Nielsen (6.65 career ERA in 23 IP) is 1-0 in 26 career appearances.
• Senior RHP Josh Ferry (6.80 career ERA in 45 IP) owns a 3-1 record in 17 career appearances.
• Junior RHP Matt Schultz and redshirt-freshman LHP Doug Hayes are newcomers to the Illini staff in 2015.