| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Illinois State |
| Tue., 6 p.m. CT |
RHP Matthew James (0-1, 8.83) |
LHP Colton Johnson (1-2, 4.30) |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team and Illinois State finish their season series Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois. The Illini are looking for the season sweep over Illinois State.
Illinois (11-18, 1-5 Big Ten) is coming off a 7-5 win Sunday at No. 18 Michigan, the team's second victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Illini have won five of their last seven.
Illinois State (9-20, 0-3 Missouri Valley) is looking to snap a four-game losing streak against Illinois.
Senior Matthew James will get the start on the mound for the Illini in his hometown of Normal. He also started there last season and struck out a career-high six Redbirds in four innings.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and WDWS 1400-AM.
NOTES
• Illinois used six pitchers March 21 to combine on a four-hitter in a 7-1 win over Illinois State at Illinois Field. It was a bullpen day for the Illini and the offense supported the pitchers by scoring in six different innings. Illinois (6-12) was led by Michael Massey's three-hit, two-RBI day, and also got two-hit outings from Doran Turchin and Pat McInerney. Jack Yalowitz added two sac flies for two RBIs.
• Illinois has won four straight over Illinois State and seven of the last eight.
• 229 1/3 of Illinois' 253 innings pitched have been by freshmen or sophomores (90.6%).
• 179 of Illinois' 250 hits have been by freshmen or sophomores (71.6%). Freshmen have 57 hits, all by Michael Massey and Ben Troike.
• Doran Turchin has reached base safely in 21 straight games.
• Illinois has outhit opponents or hits have been even in 17 of 29 games.
• Illinois is 4-15 when scoring six or fewer runs. Four of the last five wins have come with six or fewer runs.
• The Illini are 6-8 in games decided by two or fewer runs, but have won four of their last five two-run games.
UP NEXT
Northwestern visits Illinois Field this weekend for three games Friday-Sunday.
