Illinois Opens Penn State Series Friday on Big Ten Network

Friday, April 19

Champaign, Ill.

7:30 PM CT

University of Illinois

Penn State

Illinois Baseball vs. Illinois State in Champaign, Illinois.March 23, 2019Photo Credit: Michael Glasgow / Illinois Athletics

Illinois Opens Penn State Series Friday on Big Ten Network

April 18, 2019 | Baseball

Illinois (22-13, 3-6 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (17-15, 1-10 Big Ten)
When	April 19-21
Where	Illinois Field
Tickets	Free Admission
Television	Big Ten Network 7:30 p.m. CT Friday
Live Video	BTN Plus ($) for non-BTN games
Radio	Fighting Illini Sports Network \| WDWS AM-1400
Live Stats	Live Stats
Notes	Illinois
Shop	Online Store \| Auctions \| Publications
Social Media	@IlliniBaseball \| #Illini \| @IlliniBaseball \| Facebook \| YouTube

Probable Starting Pitchers
Day	Illinois	Penn State
Fri. 7:30 p.m. CT	LHP Fisher (4-1, 3.31)	LHP Biasi (3-3, 1.93)
Sat 3 p.m. CT	RHP Weber (3-1, 1.90)	RHP Mock (2-2, 2.66)
Sun. 12 p.m. CT	RHP Watson (3-1, 3.59)	RHP Dees (2-1, 4.00)

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, 7:30 p.m. CT vs. Penn State » 9 Innings of Winning (prizes every half inning) // $6 Meal Deal (hot dog, chips, drink)
SATURDAY, 3 p.m. CT vs. Penn State » Bunny at the Ballpark
SUNDAY, 12 p.m. CT vs. Penn State » Kids Day (bounce house, card giveaway, postgame run the bases)

Note: Sunday's game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. before being moved to noon to help accommodate Penn State's travel plans.

PREVIEW

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team continues Big Ten play this weekend against Penn State at Illinois Field. The teams are scheduled for three games Friday-Sunday with the series opener set for 7:30 p.m. Friday on Big Ten Network.

Illinois (22-13, 3-6 Big Ten) rebounded to beat Minnesota two out of three games last weekend after dropping the first two conference series. Despite a slow start in Big Ten games, Illinois still ranks No. 32 in the latest RPI, behind only No. 21 Indiana among conference teams.

Penn State (17-15, 1-10 Big Ten) started the season 13-3 but gone 4-12 since March 23. The Nittany Lions are led by left-hander Dante Biasi, the Friday night starter, who has gone six straight starts allowing two or fewer runs.

Illinois and Penn State have not played since Penn State's visit to Champaign for a three-game series March 25-27, 2016. Illinois has won three straight series against Penn State in Champaign (2010, '13, '16) and 11 of the last 12 meetings overall.

Dave Loane and Jeff Huth have the radio call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network. Illinois will provide a video stream via BTN Plus (subscription required).

BEER HERE

Illinois announced Thursday that beer will be sold at the remainder of games at Illinois Field. Beer will be $5 and $6 and sold from the concession stand.

NOTES

• Illinois has won 11 of its last 12 games against Penn State.
• Illinois has won three straight series against Penn State in Champaign (2010, '13, '16).
• Illinois and Penn State have not played since Penn State's visit to Champaign for a three-game series 3/25-3/27/2016. Illinois has played every other Big Ten program at least four games since last playing Penn State.
• Jack Yalowitz (2-8, RBI, R in 3 G) and Tyler Engel are the only current Illini to have played in a game against Penn State.
• Zac Taylor leads Illinois with five homers despite missing 14 games with an injury (he has played in the last eight games). Taylor was a home run away from the cycle during the Sunday game at Grand Canyon but had to be removed from the game after injuring his ankle while trying to make a catch at the wall.
• Michael Massey, a Preseason All-American, was unable to play defense for the first 28 games of the season due to an injury. Massey started the first 28 games at DH and homered in three straight games 3/9-3/16/2019. He returned for three games in the field, then missed two games at Minnesota last weekend, but returned to the DH spot Monday and got three hits and homered Tuesday.
• Michael Massey is one RBI away from career No. 100.
• Garrett Acton leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation in saves (11).
• Ty Weber is second in the Big Ten in ERA (1.90) and seventh in batting average against (.202).
• Grant Van Scoy is on a career-long 18-game reached base streak. Van Scoy is slashing .373/.447/.552 during the 18-game streak with four doubles, one triple, two homers and nine RBIs.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks 18th in the nation in fielding percentage at .979, equal to last year's single-season program record (.979).
• Illinois has a fielding percentage of .984 in Big Ten games (five errors in nine games).
• Illinois leads the Big Ten in batting average (.286) and ranks third in ERA (3.63).
• Illinois is 19-8 on the weekends (Minnesota Monday counted as weekend) and 3-5 during the week.
• Illinois is 21-5 when allowing six or fewer runs.
• Illinois is 22-6 when scoring four or more runs.
• Illinois is 20-6 when leading or tied after four innings.
• Illinois is 9-3 at home.
• Illinois is 3-1 against ranked teams (D1Baseball Poll).
• Illinois ' bullpen has a .184 batting average against, 3.52 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings pitched.
• Opponents are hitting .198 with runners in scoring position against Illinois this season (66/334).
• Illinois is outscoring opponents 26-6 in the first inning. Illinois has allowed only three earned runs in the first inning for a 0.77 team ERA in the opening frame. Andy Fisher has yet to allow a first inning earned run.