University of Illinois
Michigan State
Illini Head to Greenville, S.C., Schedule Changed
March 7, 2018 | Baseball
| Illinois at the First Pitch Invitational | |
|---|---|
| When | March 9-10 |
| Where | Greenville, S.C. | Fluor Field |
| Tickets | Greenville Drive |
| Live Video | Furman Game Only (SoCon Digital, free) |
| Radio | Fighting Illini Sports Network | WDWS AM-1400 |
| Live Stats | FightingIllini.com |
| Notes | Illinois | Furman | Michigan State |
| Shop | Online Store | Auctions | Publications |
| Social Media | @IlliniBaseball  | #Illini | @IlliniBaseball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
| Probable Starting Pitchers | |||||||||
| Day | Illinois | Opponent | |||||||
| Fri. vs. MSU | RHP Quinn Snarskis | MSU - RHP Riley McCauley | |||||||
| Sat. vs. Furman | LHP Andy Fisher | Furman - LHP Grant Schuermann | |||||||
| Sat. vs. MSU | RHP Ty Weber | MSU - RHP Mason Erla | |||||||
SCHEDULE
Note: Illinois was scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday, but switched to Friday and Saturday due to forecasted inclement weather on Sunday.
Friday
1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET - Illinois vs. Michigan State
Saturday
12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET - Illinois vs. Furman
4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET - Illinois vs. Michigan State
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois takes its five-game winning streak to Greenville, South Carolina, this weekend to take on Furman and Michigan State at the First Pitch Invitational, hosted by the Spartans.
Illinois (6-3) is coming off an impressive 3-0 showing at the DQ Classic/Big Ten-Pac-12 Challenge at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Illini beat Pac-12 foes No. 11 UCLA, Arizona and Washington in consecutive days to leave Minnesota as the only undefeated team of the six-team event.
The Illini's defense has shined in the season's first nine games. Illinois is riding a six-game errorless streak and its .994 fielding percentage ranks second in the nation, behind on USC's .997 mark.
That defense helped the pitching staff have a 2.33 combined ERA during the weekend in Minnesota against three teams picked to make the NCAA tournament by Baseball America. The Illini walked only six batters and allowed just five extra-base hits in 27 innings pitched.
This weekend's games will be played at Fluor Field, home of the Class A Greenville Drive, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Modeled after Fenway Park, Fluor Field has its own "Green Monster" in left field, a 30-foot high wall equipped with a manual scoreboard. The outfield dimensions are the same as Fenway Park, including "Pesky's Pole" in right field.
Michigan State is the host of the event. Greenville Drive Owner/Team President Craig Brown is a Michigan State graduate and annually hosts the Spartans.
All three games will be broadcast live on the Fighting Illini Sports Network and WDWS 1400-AM with Scott Beatty on the call.
NOTES
• During its five-game winning streak, Illinois has beaten three of the last six NCAA champions. Feb. 24 vs. Coastal Carolina (2016), March 2 vs. UCLA (2013), March 3 vs. Arizona (2012)
• Illinois has not committed an error in six straight games. The Illini are tied for fifth in the nation and lead the Big Ten with a .991 fielding percentage.
• Illinois' six-game errorless streak is the second longest in program history since 1979. The Illini had a seven-game errorless streak May 16-31, 2013.
• Illinois was crowned the DQ Classic/Big Ten-Pac-12 Challenge champions last weekend after taking three straight over Pac-12 foes No. 11 UCLA, Arizona and Washington.
• Michael Massey paced the offense with six hits, .500 batting average (6-12), .538 on-base percentage and .750 slugging percentage at the DQ Classic. Massey had two hits in each game and totaled three doubles, including two in the win over No. 11 UCLA.
• Illinois' pitching staff had a 2.33 ERA in the weekend in Minneapolis against three teams picked to make the NCAA tournament by Baseball America. The Illini walked only six batters and allowed just five extra-base hits in 27 innings pitched.
• The bullpen trio of Ryan Thompson (2-0, 4.0 IP, 3 SO), Ryan Schmitt (2.0 IP, 2 SO, SV) and Joey Gerber (2.0 IP, 4 SO, 2 SV) combined for two wins and three saves in eight hitless innings with nine strikeouts.
• Ryan Thompson has yet to allow a run in eight innings out of the bullpen. His three wins are tied for the national lead.
UP NEXT
Illinois' home opener is scheduled for Tuesday against Milwaukee, before a trip to Carbondale, Illinois, to take on Southern Illinois in a three-game weekend series. After this weekend, the Illini's next 13 scheduled games are in the state of Illinois.
