Quick Hits
Illinois is the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth time in program history (1998, 2005, 2011, 2015).
Illinois won its 30th Big Ten Championship, which ranks second all-time in conference history behind Michigan (35).
It is the first Illini title since 2011 (shared with Michigan State) and first outright title since 2005.
Illinois swept the top three Big Ten individual awards for the first time in school history: David Kerian (Player of the Year), Tyler Jay (Pitcher of the Year) and Dan Hartleb (Coach of the Year).
Illinois is off to its best start in school history with a 45-6-1 record at the end of the regular season. The Illini's 45 wins rank third on the program's all-time list. The school record for victories is 49 in 1982.
Illinois boasts the No. 1 winning percentage (0.875) in NCAA Division I and has the fewest losses (6).
Illinois is on a school-record 26-game winning streak, which is the longest winning streak in the country in 2015. It equaled Nebraska (1983) for the longest winning streak by a Big Ten team.
The NCAA record winning streak of 34 is owned by Texas (1977) and Florida Atlantic (1999).
UI won a Big Ten record 20 straight conference contests and became the first Big Ten team to ever record seven straight conference series sweeps.
The 2015 Fighting Illini finished in first place at 21-1 overall, equaling the 2014 Indiana Hoosiers (21-3) for the most wins during a 24-game Big Ten season (began in 2009).
Illinois has outscored its opponents 216-96 during its 26-game winning streak. The Illini boast a .314 average and 2.91 ERA during that span. UI has overcome a deficit in 16 of the games and has 22 total comeback wins on the year.
UI's 16-game home winning streak is the longest active streak in the nation. The Illini also boast the second-longest active road winning streak (10) and best road record (17-2-1) in the nation.
Illinois is ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball poll for the second straight week, which is the highest ranking in program history. It is the sixth straight week the Illini are ranked in the Top 10.
UI is a consensus Top 5 team in every poll this week, checking in at No. 2 by Perfect Game, No. 4 by the NCBWA and Baseball America and No. 5 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and on D1Baseball.com.
UI sits in the Top 6 in the nation in four pitching categories: No. 3 in walks allowed per nine innings (2.11), No. 4 in WHIP (1.12), No. 5 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.55) and No. 6 in ERA (2.60).
The Illini also rank third in the country with a +3.6 scoring margin and 3.3 runs allowed per game.
Series History with Nebraska
Illinois owns an 8-6 edge in the all-time series with Nebraska. UI won the first three meetings in 1897, 1903 and 1905 in Champaign. After joining the Big Ten in 2012, the Huskers won the first three series against the Illini, but the Orange and Blue won both games in the rain-shortened series this year.
Big Ten Tournament History
Illinois reached conference postseason play for the third year in a row and eighth time in 10 years under head coach Dan Hartleb. Illinois is 27-33 in 20 all-time appearances in the Big Ten Tournament and 8-12 in seven trips under Hartleb. UI last won the event in 2011, when the Illini won a share of the regular season crown and were the No. 1 seed. The Illini have won four Big Ten Tournaments in the history of the event, also taking titles in 1989, 1990 and 2000. Last season, the Orange and Blue went 1-2 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., falling to Michigan State in game one and defeating Ohio State in the second game before getting knocked out by the Spartans in game three.
Last Time Out - Big Ten Champs
With their 25th straight win on Thursday night, the No. 2 Fighting Illini baseball team clinched the 2015 Big Ten regular season championship. Illinois defeated Nebraska 6-3 at Illinois Field and surpassed Texas A&M for the longest winning streak in the nation in 2015.
Following a 2:41 rain delay on Friday night, No. 2 Illinois displayed its resilience yet again with a 10-9 comeback victory for win No. 26 in a row, equaling the all-time Big Ten winning streak record. The Illini scored their 10 runs in the first five innings and overcame a 4-2 deficit before closer Tyler Jay stymied the late Husker surge.
School-Record Winning Streak
By winning its last 26 games, the 2015 Fighting Illini set the single-season and overall winning streak program record. The previous best single-season streak was 16 in 1959 and 1989, while the previous longest winning streak across seasons was 19 games spanning 1909-11. Below is a list of Illinois' top-five single-season streaks:
1. 26 games 2015 (March 30-present)
2. 16 games 1989 (March 3-April 1)
16 games 1959 (March 28-May 2)
4. 15 games 1903 (April 27-June 1)
5. 14 games 1911 (April 17-May 23)
14 games 1910 (March 25-May 28)
Stats Behind the Streak
Illinois has not lost in 51 days, including 15 wins at home, 10 on the road and one at a neutral site. Senior David Kerian is hitting a team-high .417 with seven home runs and 29 RBI during the 26-game winning streak. Jason Goldstein (.375) also has six homers and a team-high 30 RBI during the streak, while the Illini have hit 30 home runs over the past 26 games. Casey Fletcher (.361), Ryan Nagle (.350) and Adam Walton (.325) are all hitting over .300 during it.
Home Sweet Home
The Orange and Blue have won 16 consecutive games at Illinois Field and are 22-2 at home this season, which broke the school's best record from 1998 (went 20-5 at home).
Illini Post Best Big Ten Record
The 2015 Fighting Illini tallied a 21-1 (.955) Big Ten record, marking the best non-undefeated winning percentage in Big Ten history. Eight teams have finished the Big Ten regular season undefeated, with Ohio State (6-0) being the last in 1966. Illinois also equaled the 2014 Indiana Hoosiers for the most wins in a 24-game schedule, which begain in 2009.
1902 Wisconsin 5-0 (1.000)
1907 Illinois 7-0 (1.000)
1910 Illinois 11-0 (1.000)
1919 Michigan 9-0 (1.000)
1923 Michigan 10-0 (1.000)
1944 Michigan 8-0 (1.000)
1945 Michigan 8-0 (1.000)
1966 Ohio State 6-0 (1.000)
2015 Illinois 21-1 (.955)
Best UI Record after 52 Games
Illinois is off to its best start in school history with a 45-6-1 record after 52 games. Below are the top-four records at this point in the season and the overall record at the end of that year.
1. 45-6-1 2015
2. 38-14 1989 (Finished 42-16)
38-14 1985 (Finished 46-21)
4. 37-15 1982 (Finished 49-23)
3rd Most UI Wins in a Season
Through 52 games, Illinois owns the third-most wins in program history. Below is a list of the winningest seasons in school history, as the Illini have now exceeded 40 wins seven times. Illinois, which boasts 10 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances, reached a regional in four of those years.
1. 49-23 1982
2. 46-21 1985
3. 45-6-1 2015
4. 43-21 1990 (South II Regional)
5. 42-21 1998 (South I Regional)
42-16 1989 (Northeast Regional)
7. 41-23 2000 (Clemson Regional)
Hartleb No. 3 in UI History
University of Illinois 10th-year head coach Dan Hartleb has coached in 548 games as an Illini and currently ranks third in school history with 321 wins. He earned his 300th career win in a 17-2 rout of Northwestern on April 5 and moved past George Huff with career win No. 315 in a 6-5 comeback victory at Ohio State on May 2.
The top-four winningest coaches among the 10 all-time coaches at Illinois are listed below:
1. Lee Eilbracht 518-395-6 (27 seasons: 1952-1978)
2. Itch Jones 474-373-1 (15 seasons: 1991-2005)
3. Dan Hartleb 321-226-1 (10 seasons: 2006-present)
4. George Huff 314-97-4 (23 seasons: 1896-1919)
Jay on Final Golden Spikes Award Watch List
Fighting Illini baseball junior Tyler Jay was named to the final USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award watch list. The Illini closer is one of 30 players on the list recognizing potential candidates for the award given to the top amateur baseball player in the nation.
Jay leads the nation in WHIP at 0.65 and ranks second in the country with a 0.67 ERA while boasting a 5-1 record as the closer. He also has 12 saves (2nd in Big Ten), giving him 22 for his career, which is one shy of Jeff Richards' school record and 21st among active players in the NCAA.
The Lemont, Illinois, native has 24 scoreless appearances out of 26 total to go along with 62 strikeouts and six walks (10.33-to-1 ratio), which ranks fifth in the nation. He's limiting opponents to a .161 average in 54 innings pitched.
His 1.55 career ERA is the best in Illinois history and fourth among active NCAA players, while he boasts the fourth-fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.28) for his career.
Duchene, Jay Both Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists
Junior closer Tyler Jay (0.67) and starter Kevin Duchene (1.19) rank second and sixth, respectively, in the NCAA in ERA. Both Illini hurlers were named NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists and to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame watch list for the Pitcher of the Year award.
Illini Pitchers in Big Ten Stats
Four Illinois pitchers rank in the Big Ten's Top 6 ERA leaders. Tyler Jay leads the conference with a 0.67 ERA followed by Kevin Duchene (1.19) in second, Drasen Johnson (2.34) in fifth and Rob McDonnell (2.35) in sixth.
Four Illinois pitchers rank in the Big Ten's Top 11 opposing batting average leaders. Tyler Jay (.161) leads the league followed by Rob McDonnell (.213) in fifth, Kevin Duchene (.222) in seventh and Drasen Johnson (.247) in 13th.
Duchene's Dominant on Friday
Junior Kevin Duchene sits sixth in the nation with a 1.19 ERA, 11th with a 8.00 strikeout-to-walk-ratio and 17th with 1.00 walks allowed per nine innings. He has fanned eight or more five times, including a season-high 10 punch outs against Northwestern. His 10-1 record is the first double-digit win season by an Illini since Brian Blomquist (10-3) in 2005. His 80 strikeouts are tops on the team and second in the Big Ten. Duchene's 1.95 career ERA ranks second in school history, while his 23-3 (.885) career record is the fourth-best winning percentage all-time by a UI pitcher.
Johnson Eats Up Innings
Redshirt-senior Drasen Johnson has been a workhorse for the Illini starting staff after moving into the rotation last season. Johnson is 9-2 with a 2.34 ERA and leads the Big Ten with 100 innings pitched over 14 starts. He has Illinois' only two complete games this year. The Chillicothe, Illinois, native made every start last season and led the Illini with 96 innings pitched. He spent his first two seasons in the bullpen, throwing 39 innings in 2012 and 29.1 innings in 2013. He is 10th in school history with 264.1 innings pitched.
Career Numbers for Kravetz
Senior John Kravetz is 23-7 with 323.1 innings pitched in his career. He ranks eighth on the Illinois all-time wins list and third in career innings pitched. Mark Dressen (1989-92) and current pitching coach Drew Dickinson (1999-02) hold the school record with 30 career wins, while Kevin Johnson owns the top spot with 334 IP. Among active players in NCAA Division I Baseball, Kravetz ranks 10th in games started (54), 23rd in innings pitched (323.1) and 18th in wins (23).
Double-Digit Hitting Streaks
Four Illini have turned in career-best double-digit hitting streaks this season: David Kerian (18), Ryan Nagle (15), Jason Goldstein (15) and Casey Fletcher (12). Kerian is currently on a 17-game hitting streak, marking the fifth time an Illini has reached double figures this year.
Kerian, Illini Dig the Long Ball
Illinois has more than doubled its home run total from last season (21 HR in 53 games) and is tied for first in the Big Ten with 50 home runs (21st in NCAA). Senior David Kerian leads the Big Ten with a career-high 13 bombs (29th in NCAA), which is the most by an Illini since Lars Davis hit 13 in 2007. Reid Roper is in second with nine HR (T-5th in Big Ten) and Jason Goldstein is third with eight HR (T-7th in Big Ten.
All-Big Ten Award Highlights
The Big Ten champion Fighting Illini baseball team was rewarded for its record-setting season with a record number of Big Ten postseason awards, announced the conference office May 19.
• Illinois swept the top three Big Ten individual awards for the first time in school history: David Kerian (Player of the Year), Tyler Jay (Pitcher of the Year) and Dan Hartleb (Coach of the Year).
• First baseman David Kerian is the second Illini in the past three years and ninth overall to win Big Ten Player of the Year, with Justin Parr being the last to do so in 2013.
• Closer Tyler Jay is the first Illini to earn Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors since current pitching coach Drew Dickinson in 2001. Jay is the fourth Illini to win the award all-time, with Jason Anderson (2000) and Brett Weber (1998) being the other two.
• Head coach Dan Hartleb collected his first Big Ten Coach of the Year accolade, which marks the third in Illinois history as Itch Jones won the other two (1998, 2005).
• Eleven Illini were named to All-Big Ten teams, equaling the school record from 1998. Six first-team selections also tied the record mark from that year.
• Illinois led the conference in first-team All-Big Ten selections (6) and overall selections (11).
• Catcher Jason Goldstein (.298, 35 R, 8 HR, 42 RBI) was a first-team selection for the first time and is now a two-time All-Big Ten pick (Second Team in 2014).
• First baseman David Kerian (.383, 42 R, 13 HR, 45 RBI) received a first-team nod for the second time in his career, also winning it in 2013.
• Shortstop Adam Walton (.314, 47 R, 3 HR, 29 RBI) nabbed his first career first-team selection and was All-Big Ten for the second time (Second Team in 2014).
• Outfielder Casey Fletcher (.338, 44 R, 3 HR, 32 RBI) snagged his first career first-team selection and was All-Big Ten for the second time (Third Team in 2014).
• Starting pitcher Kevin Duchene (10-1, 1.19 ERA, 80 K, 10 BB) was a unanimous first-team selection, marking his second conference honor (Second Team in 2013).
• Closer Tyler Jay (5-1, 0.67 ERA, 12 SV, 62 K, 6 BB) was a unanimous first-team selection, marking his second conference laurel (Second Team in 2014).
• Starting pitcher Drasen Johnson (9-2, 2.34 ERA, 64 K, 15 BB) was named to the Second Team for the first time.
• Second baseman Reid Roper (.310, 48 R, 9 HR, 46 RBI) was picked to the Third Team for the first time.
• Outfielder Ryan Nagle (.326, 40 R, 3 HR, 31 RBI) was selected to the Third Team for the first time.
• Designated hitter Pat McInerney (.318, 29 R, 5 HR, 32 RBI) was voted to the Third Team for the first time.
• Starting pitcher John Kravetz (4-0, 3.76 ERA, 40 K, 12 BB) was a third-team pick, marking his second All-Big Ten selection (Second Team in 2014).
• Outfielder Will Krug was Illinois' Sportsmanship Award honoree.
