| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Grand Canyon |
| Fri. 6Â p.m. CT |
LHP Andy Fisher (3-0, 4.15) |
RHP Jake Wong (5-1, 2.24) |
| Sat. 3 p.m. CT |
RHP Quinn Snarskis (4-1, 3.67) |
LHP Jake Repavich (2-3, 7.49) |
| Sun. 11 a.m. CT |
RHP Ty Weber (4-1, 3.00) |
LHP Ethan Evanko (2-1, 4.06) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The No. 25 Illinois baseball team steps out of Big Ten play to take on Grand Canyon this weekend at Illinois Field. The Illini are expecting around 70 former baseball players for alumni weekend, while also hosting Honor and Serve Day (Saturday) and Bark in the Park (Sunday).
Illinois (23-9, 9-3 Big Ten) has an off weekend from Big Ten action due to an odd number of Big Ten teams (Wisconsin does not have a team). Following this weekend, the Illini have a challenging finish to the Big Ten schedule with No. 8 Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Nebraska series remaining.
Illinois, which is ranked No. 25 by Baseball America, has been without Midseason Player of the Year Bren Spillane for the last two games. Spillane ranks first in the nation in slugging (1.038), second in batting average (.457) and third in home runs (14), but has been slowed in recent weeks after getting stepped on at first base April 6 against Maryland.
Grand Canyon (20-16, 10-2 WAC) sits in first place of the WAC standings. The Lopes have won eight of their last 10, including a midweek two-game sweep of previously-ranked UNLV.
The Lopes pitching staff is led by Friday-night starter Jake Wong (5-1, 2.24), an MLB Draft prospect that can sit as high as 94-96 MPH. Wong has struck out 57 in 52 1/3 innings.
All three games will be broadcast on BTN2Go. Dave Loane will have the radio call for all three on the Fighting Illini Sports Network and WDWS 1400-AM.Â
PROMOTIONS
• Friday 6 p.m. CT » Alumni Weekend kickoff, 250 free keychains
• Saturday 3 p.m. CT » Honor and Serve Day, jersey auction, postgame kids run the bases
• Sunday 11 a.m. CT » Bark in the Park, 100 free frisbees, postgame whiffle ball
NOTES
• Illinois and Grand Canyon will meet for the first time ever.
• Illinois is 22-6 in its last 28 games.
• Illinois was No. 35 in the RPI as of Thursday, 12 spots behind Indiana, the top RPI team in the Big Ten.
• Illinois is ranked No. 25 by Baseball America and No. 17 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
• Illinois is outscoring its opponents by nearly two runs per game (6.8-5.0).
• Illinois has 11 fewer errors than any other Big Ten team (Illinois 22, Minnesota 33). Illinois' 22 errors are tied for the fourth-fewest in the nation behind Yale (16), USC (19) and Vanderbilt (20).
• Illinois is ninth in the nation in fielding percentage (.982). Michigan set the Big Ten fielding percentage record of .983 last season.
• Illinois is 15th in the nation in doubles per game (2.22) and 16th in home runs per game (1.22)
• Illinois is 19th in the nation in slugging percentage (.468).
• Illinois is tied for the Big Ten lead in home runs with Indiana (39).
• Illinois is 17-1 when leading after four innings.
• Illinois is 17-3 when scoring first.
• Illinois is 7-1 in one-run games.
• Illinois is 18-3 when scoring five or more runs and 22-5 when scoring three or more runs.
• Illinois is 16-1 when outhitting opponents and 7-8 when being outhit.
• Ben Troike has reached base in all 32 games this season. His current reached base streak is 37 dating back to the final five games of last season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
• Bren Spillane is one home run away from joining Illinois' single-season top-10 list. He already has 109 total bases, 30 away from Illinois' single-season top-10 list.
• Bren Spillane ranks among the NCAA leaders in nearly every major category: 1st slugging (1.038), 1st OPS (1.578), t-3rd HRs (14), 2nd batting average (.457), 3rd OBP (.540), t-17th doubles (15), t-22nd RBIs (43)
• Bren Spillane entered the week as the Big Ten leader in batting average, slugging, OBP, OPS, homers, RBIs and total bases. He ranks second in doubles, fifth in hits, sixth in runs and sixth in steals.
• Ryan Thompson is t-6th in the nation in wins (7-2).
• Joey Gerber, who has been up to 97 MPH, is t-4th in the nation with 11 saves. His 11 saves ranks t-3rd most in an Illinois single season, three away from Tyler Jay's record of 14.
• Gerber's 19 career saves are fourth-best in Illinois history (Tyler Jay 24, Jeff Richards 23, Jeff Innis 21).
UP NEXT
Illinois finishes its nine-game homestand Tuesday against Bradley.
