| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Illinois State |
| Fri. 4 p.m. CT |
LHP Fisher (2-1, 3.60) |
LHP Headrick (1-1, 4.55) |
| Sat. 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Weber (0-0, 1.29) |
RHP Lindgren (2-1, 3.58) |
| Sun. 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Watson (3-0, 2.76) |
LHP Walker (1-2, 4.87) |
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, 4 p.m. CT vs. Illinois State » $6 Family Meal Deal (hot dog, chips, drink) // Baseball Bingo
SATURDAY, 1 p.m. CT vs. Illinois State » Fleece blanket giveaway (first 150 fans)
SUNDAY, 1 p.m. CT vs. Illinois State
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team is set to take on in-state rival Illinois State in a three-game series at Illinois Field this weekend. Friday is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT with Saturday and Sunday slated as 1 p.m. CT starts.
Illinois (14-4) is ranked No. 23 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball and No. 30 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The Illini were riding a seven-game winning streak before a loss Wednesday at Saint Louis. Illinois and SLU split a two-game series Tuesday-Wednesday.
Illinois State (13-6) has won six of its last seven, sparked by a win in a three-game series finale at No. 1 Vanderbilt. The Redbirds took two of three from Central Michigan last weekend before shutting out UIC in their midweek game Tuesday.
Dave Loane has the call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network. Illinois will provide a video stream via BTN Plus (subscription required).
NOTES
• Illinois started the season 14-3, tied for the best start through 17 games in the last 60 years (Started 16-1 in 1959). The 14-3 start tied for the sixth-best 17-game start in program history.
• Illinois has swept four of its first five weekend series for the first time since beginning to regularly play February games in 1982.
• Illinois is 13-0 when allowing six or fewer runs.
• Illinois is 10-0 when leading after seven innings.
• Illinois hitters are reaching 45.0 percent of the time when leading off an inning (72/160).
• Illinois is currently ranked No. 23 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and No. 30 by the NCBWA.
• Illinois started the week ranked No. 8 in the NCAA RPI with the No. 41 strength of schedule.
• Illinois has a fielding percentage of .980. slightly ahead of last year record-setting pace. Illinois set the single season program record for fielding percentage of .979 last season.
UP NEXT
Illinois travels to nationally-ranked Indiana State for a Tuesday showdown between two of the top teams in the Midwest. A trip to Iowa next weekend opens Big Ten play.
