Illini to Host NCAA Baseball Regional at Illinois Field May 29-June 1
May 24, 2015 | Baseball
Illinois Selected as Host Site for First Time, One of 16 Schools Chosen
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For the first time in program history, the University of Illinois baseball team will host an NCAA Regional at Illinois Field. The Fighting Illini were selected by the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee as one of 16 teams to hold the national championship tournament's opening round at their home venue.
Illinois Field will welcome in three additional NCAA Tournament teams for a four-team, double-elimination competition. The winner qualifies for one of eight Super Regionals and takes one step closer to the College World Series in Omaha. Regional play begins on Friday, May 29 and runs through Monday, June 1 (if necessary). All NCAA Regional action will be broadcast by the ESPN family of networks.
Illinois won the Big Ten regular season championship, marking the 30th conference title in school history. The Fighting Illini will make their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third in the past five years.
The 2015 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Selection Show, with regional pairings, will be revealed in a live, one-hour telecast on ESPNU at 11 a.m. CT, Monday, May 25. The entire 64-team field, including the additional three teams coming to the Champaign Regional, will be announced at that time.
Fighting Illini Baseball Game Notes
• Illinois will host an NCAA Regional for the first time in school history and make its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance (1947, 1948, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2011, 2013, 2015), including its third in the past five years.
• The Fighting Illini won their 30th Big Ten Championship in 2015, which ranks second all-time in conference history behind Michigan (35).
• Illinois (47-8-1) is two wins shy of the school record for victories (49 in 1982).
• UI boasts the No. 1 winning percentage (0.848) in NCAA Division I Baseball and has the fewest losses (8).
• 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 posted a Big Ten record 27-game winning streak from March 30-May 20, which is the longest winning streak in the country in 2015. The Illini finished seven shy of the NCAA record winning streak of 34: Texas (1977) and Florida Atlantic (1999).
• The 2015 Illini pitching staff (423 K) broke the school record for strikeouts from 1998 (419 K). Their 2.46 ERA is on pace to shatter the school's ERA record (3.25) from last season.
Illinois Field will welcome in three additional NCAA Tournament teams for a four-team, double-elimination competition. The winner qualifies for one of eight Super Regionals and takes one step closer to the College World Series in Omaha. Regional play begins on Friday, May 29 and runs through Monday, June 1 (if necessary). All NCAA Regional action will be broadcast by the ESPN family of networks.
Illinois won the Big Ten regular season championship, marking the 30th conference title in school history. The Fighting Illini will make their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third in the past five years.
The 2015 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Selection Show, with regional pairings, will be revealed in a live, one-hour telecast on ESPNU at 11 a.m. CT, Monday, May 25. The entire 64-team field, including the additional three teams coming to the Champaign Regional, will be announced at that time.
Fighting Illini Baseball Game Notes
• Illinois will host an NCAA Regional for the first time in school history and make its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance (1947, 1948, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2011, 2013, 2015), including its third in the past five years.
• The Fighting Illini won their 30th Big Ten Championship in 2015, which ranks second all-time in conference history behind Michigan (35).
• Illinois (47-8-1) is two wins shy of the school record for victories (49 in 1982).
• UI boasts the No. 1 winning percentage (0.848) in NCAA Division I Baseball and has the fewest losses (8).
• 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 posted a Big Ten record 27-game winning streak from March 30-May 20, which is the longest winning streak in the country in 2015. The Illini finished seven shy of the NCAA record winning streak of 34: Texas (1977) and Florida Atlantic (1999).
• The 2015 Illini pitching staff (423 K) broke the school record for strikeouts from 1998 (419 K). Their 2.46 ERA is on pace to shatter the school's ERA record (3.25) from last season.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, March 19
Thursday, February 13
Monday, December 09
Friday, September 22
