| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day | Illinois | Illinois State |
| Tue., 6 p.m. | RHP Andrew Mamlic (1-6, 5.35) | LHP Jacob Hendren (1-6, 7.92) |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball team returns to Illinois Field for 10 of its next 11 games starting Tuesday against Illinois State. The Fighting Illini will look to sweep the season series from the Redbirds after an 8-3 win March 22 in Normal.
Tuesday's game marks the start of five straight nonconference games, as the Illini step out of conference play this weekend to face Saint Louis. Illinois is looking to get back on track after dropping two straight Big Ten series following nine consecutive series wins dating back to 2014.
Illinois State will start lefty Jacob Hendren, who started the season as the Redbirds' ace after going 10-2 with a 2.80 ERA during his junior campaign in 2015. Hendren was slated to start on Sunday but ISU's game against Dallas Baptist was rained out.
Illinois (13-16, 4-5 Big Ten) will go with redshirt senior Andrew Mamlic on the mound. Mamlic, who already graduated from Illinois with a degree in civil engineering and is working on his master's, is scheduled to make his 10th appearance and seventh start.
The game will be streamed for free on FightingIllini.com with Dave Loane on the radio call.
SERIES HISTORY
• Record: 49-32 (.605)
• Last: W, 8-3 (3/22/16 at ISU)
• Illinois has won five of the last six against Illinois State.
• Illini have won nine of the last 13 against Illinois State.
NOW TRENDING - #ILLINI
MICHAEL HURWITZ
Hurwitz led the Illini with eight hits at Iowa last weekend. He went 8 for 14 (.571) with a double and two RBIs. Hurwitz is batting a team-best .447 (17-38) in the last 10 games.
CODY SEDLOCK - @CodySedlock
Sedlock set career highs with 8.0 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts Saturday at Iowa. His 2.70 ERA in Big Ten games is tied for the team lead with Charlie Naso.
DOUG HAYES
Hayes is 2-0 in his three Big Ten starts with a 3.05 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .224 off the lefty in conference play.
NOTES
• Nearly half of the Illini's hits (49%, 122/249) have been by players who never started a game before 2016.
• The Illini are 11-1 when leading after five innings.
• Illinois is 0-9 in one-run games.
• Freshman centerfielder Doran Turchin and redshirt-junior shortstop Adam Walton are the only Illini to start every game at their respective positions. Only Walton, the leadoff hitter, has started in the same spot in the batting order.
UP NEXT
Illinois hosts Saint Louis this weekend in a three-game nonconference series Friday-Sunday. Saturday is Country Day at Illinois Field.
