| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Nebraska |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Nathan Lavender (3-0, 0.75) |
LHP Cade Povich (2-1,3.68) |
| Sat. 5 p.m. CT |
RHP Ty Rybarczyk (1-2, 11.81) |
RHP Chance Hroch (2-0, 3.68) |
| Sun. 12 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (1-1, 6.17) |
RHP Shay Schanaman (2-0, 4.43) |
Note: Due to forecasted high winds at Illinois Field this weekend, the start time of Illinois' game times on Friday and Saturday against Nebraska have been adjusted. Sunday will remain the same time as scheduled.
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team will play at Illinois Field for a second straight weekend. The Illini will be playing a three-game series against Nebraska scheduled to begin on Friday night.
Illinois (7-8) is looking to rebound following a series loss to Northwestern last weekend. The Illini won the first game of the series before dropping the next two. In the come-from-behind victory on Friday, the pitching staff recorded a season-high 17 strikeouts. The offense did their part too as they produced an eight-run seventh inning, highlighted by a Jackson Raper three-run homer.
Sophomore SS Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 33 games last weekend. Comia is hitting .607/.645/.893 (17-for-28), with five doubles, a home run, six RBIs and nine runs scored over the last seven games.
This weekend, the Illini will make a couple changes to the starting rotation. Friday will go to sophomore LHP Nathan Lavender who will start for the first time since April 30, 2019 at Southern Illinois. Saturday will remain with sophomore RHP Ty Rybarczyk, while freshman RHP Riley Gowens gets the ball on Sunday for Illinois.
A limited number of families and approved guests will be allowed at home games this season. Consistent with Champaign County public health guidelines on social distancing at outdoor events, no general public admission will be permitted at this time. The current policy will continue to be evaluated as the spring season goes along.
All three games this weekend will be broadcast on BTN+. Scott Beatty will have the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Nebraska
• Record: 14-10 (H: 8-3; A: 5-7; N: 1-0)
• Last: W, 6-5 (4/28/19 at Nebraska)
• Illini are 11-10 since Nebraska joined B1G
• Illini won 2 of 3 in Lincoln in 2019
• Illini won 2 of 3 in Champaign in 2018
NOTES
• Illinois will return to Illinois Field for a second consecutive weekend to face Nebraska in a three-game series.
• The Illini's offensive rankings in the Big Ten through 15 games...
» 1st hits (149)
» 2nd batting average (.284)
» 2nd doubles (32)
» 3rd on-base percentage (.376)
» 4th runs (95)
• Illinois hit .327/.392/.591 (36-for-110) with five doubles, eight home runs, and 31 runs last weekend against Northwestern.
• Illinois' eight home runs last weekend were twice as many as their first three weeks of the season combined (4 HR).
• The combination of RHP Andrew Hoffmann, LHP Nathan Lavender and RHP Jack Crowder struck out 17 Northwestern batters last Friday, the most in a game since the Illini set a program record on April 22, 2016 vs. Ohio State (15 inn., 23 SO).
» It was the most in a 9-inning game since at least the 2004 season.
• Illinois has scored at least six runs in all of their wins. The Illini are 7-2 when scoring 6 runs or more in a game.
• Illinois has 24 returning players and 11 newcomers. 86% of last season's hits and 83% of runs are back in the lineup
» Three of the four transfers on the team this season are coming from John A. Logan CC (RHP Andrew Hoffmann, C Ryan Hampe, INF Zak Hartleb). INF Jackson Raper transferred from Catawba College.
• SS Branden Comia currently has a career-long 33-game on-base streak dating back to May 18, 2019 at Michigan State.
» Comia is hitting .607/.645/.893 (17-for-28), with five doubles, a home run, six RBIs and nine runs scored over the last seven games.
» He leads the team in batting average (.370), hits (20), runs (15) and is tied for first in doubles (5).
» His three doubles on Friday against Northwestern were the most since Jack Yalowitz on April 9, 2019 at Illinois State.
• SS Branden Comia was the only underclassmen shortstop in the nation who hit .400+ with an OPS of 1.200+ in 2020.
• SS Branden Comia Big Ten ranks in 2020...
» 3rd OBP (.526)
» 5th slugging (.702)
» 5th batting average (.426)
• LHP Nathan Lavender earned his team-best third win last Friday. He pitched a career-high 4.2 innings and struck out a career-high nine batters. His three wins are tied for second in the Big Ten.
• 3B Jackson Raper hit three, 3-run home runs last weekend, including two on Saturday. He finished the series with nine RBIs and five runs scored.
» He was the first to hit two home runs in a game since Branden Comia on May 18, 2019 at Michigan State.
• 1B/DH Justin Janas has reached base safely in all 13 of his appearances this season. He is batting .357/.472/.381 (15-for-42) with six RBIs and 10 runs scored this season.
UP NEXT
Illinois hits the road next weekend for a three-game series at current Big Ten leader Indiana.
