| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Nebraska |
| Fri. 7:30 p.m. CT |
LHP Fisher (4-1, 3.19) |
RHP Waldron (5-0, 1.84) |
| Sat 2:05 p.m. CT |
RHP Weber (3-1, 2.79) |
LHP Fisher (4-2, 2.81) |
| Sun. 11:05 a.m. CT |
RHP Watson (4-1, 3.26) |
RHP Eddins (4-2, 3.86) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Two of the top teams in the Big Ten face off this weekend when Illinois travels to Nebraska. The Illini are the top-ranked team in the conference at No. 23 in the RPI with Nebraska third at No. 37.
Illinois (26-13, 6-6 Big Ten) is taking a four-game winning streak to Nebraska after sweeping Penn State last weekend and beating Bradley in extra innings Tuesday. The Illini got to .500 in the Big Ten after a slow start in conference games.
Nebraska (22-14, 11-4 Big Ten) sits just .017 percentage points behind Indiana for the top spot in the Big Ten after all teams reached the halfway point last weekend. The standings are a log jam in the middle, as only 1 1/2 games separate fourth place from ninth place.
The Huskers have swept Michigan State, Purdue and Penn State in conference play and lost two of three at Minnesota and at Iowa. Nebraska has been led by strong pitching, especially its starters, as Friday's Matt Waldron and Saturday's Nate Fisher both have ERAs below 3.00.
Friday's game will be televised by Big Ten Network with the last two games streamed via BTN Plus. Dave Loane has the radio call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
NOTES
• Illinois is 12-9 all-time against Nebraska, including 9-9 since the Huskers joined the Big Ten.
• Illinois won two of three against Nebraska last season in the final series of the season.
• Home teams have won the last four series between Illinois and Nebraska.
• Illinois is No. 23 in the RPI, one spot ahead of Indiana for the best in the Big Ten. Nebraska is third at No. 37.
• Illinois' bullpen has a .176 batting average against, 3.25 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 149 1/3 innings pitched.
• Opponents are hitting .196 with runners in scoring position against Illinois this season (71/362).
• Illinois is outscoring opponents 31-7 in the first inning. Illinois has allowed only four earned runs in the first inning for a 0.92 team ERA in the opening frame. Andy Fisher has yet to allow a first inning earned run.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in the nation in fielding percentage at .981, slightly ahead of last year's single-season program record of .979.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings (6.98).
• Illinois has a fielding percentage of .986 in Big Ten games (six errors in 12 games).
• Illinois is second in the Big Ten in batting average (.282) and ranks third in ERA (3.51).
• Zac Taylor leads Illinois with six homers despite missing 14 games with an injury (he has played in the last eight games). Taylor is one of only 19 players in the nation with 6+ homers and 14+ stolen bases. The other 18 players on the list all have at least 29 more at-bats than Taylor.
• 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, but is now back to the lineup again.
• Michael Massey recorded career RBI No. 100 Sunday against Penn State on a sac fly in the third inning.
• Garrett Acton leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation in saves (13). Acton is one save away from tying the Illinois record held by Tyler Jay (2015) and Joey Gerber (2018). He had a chance to tie the record Tuesday at Bradley, but allowed a run and blew the save before pitching a 1-2-3 10th to secure the win.
• Andy Fisher is eighth in the Big Ten in innings (59.1), batting average against (.211) and strikeouts (62).
• Ty Weber is 11th in the Big Ten in ERA (2.79) and 12th in batting average against (.215).
• Grant Van Scoy is on a career-long 22-game reached base streak. Van Scoy is hitting .358 (29-81) during the 22-game streak with four doubles, one triple, two homers and 10 RBIs.
• Illinois is 25-5 when allowing six or fewer runs and 1-8 when allowing seven or more runs.
• Illinois is 25-6 when scoring four or more runs and 1-7 when scoring three or fewer runs.
• Illinois is 12-3 at home and 11-8 on the road.
• Illinois is 23-6 when leading or tied after four innings.
• Illinois is 8-3 in one-run games and 13-6 in games decided by one or two runs.
• Hitting streaks: Massey 6, Van Scoy 5
• Reached base streaks: Van Scoy 22, Taylor 11, Yalowitz 10, Massey 7, Sarver 7
UP NEXT
Illinois is busy with five games next week, including four at Illinois Field.
Tue., April 30 at 5 p.m. » Illinois at Southern Illinois
Wed., May 1 at 6 p.m. » Indiana State at Illinois (Wing Wednesday)
Fri., May 3 at 6 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (Bleacher Bum BBQ)
Sat., May 4 at 3 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (Derby Day)
Sun., May 5 at 1 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (GOAT Day)
