| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Western Kentucky |
| Fri. 1 p.m. CT |
LHP Cole Kirschsieper (1-1, 3.50)
|
RHP Jake Kates (2-0, 2.55)
|
| Sun. 12 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (1-0, 0.00)
|
RHP Sean Bergeron (1-0, 2.84)
|
| Sun. 3Â p.m. CT |
TBA
|
LHPÂ Devyn Terbak (2-0, 4.91)
|
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team heads to Bowling Green, Kentucky this weekend for three games at Western Kentucky. The Illini last played the Hilltoppers in 2014.
Illinois (3-7) is coming off a loss in the Illinois Field opener against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday. Last weekend, the Illini went 1-2 at the Cambria College Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, defeating No. 25 West Virginia while dropping games to No. 12 Notre Dame and Kansas.
Due to expected weather on Saturday, the Illini will play one game on Friday, a 7-inning game in game one on Sunday, followed by a 9-inning game to wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon. Lefty Cole Kirshsieper will get the start on Friday, and RHP Riley Gowens will start for the Illini in game one on Sunday. Sunday's game two starter is TBA.
All three games will be streamed on Facebook Live. Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Western Kentucky
• Record: 8-6 (H: 0-0; A: 3-6; N: 5-0)
• Last: L, 0-1 (3/9/2014 in Bowling Green, Ky.)
• Illini have lost the last four meetings
• Illinois won the first meeting on 3/20/1987
NOTES
• Illinois is traveling to Bowling Green, Kentucky to take on Western Kentucky in the first true road series of the season.
• Illinois last played Western Kentucky on 3/9/2014.
• Junior INF/OF Cam McDonald leads the Illini in home runs (2), RBI (7), OPS (.946), and total bases (20).
• Junior RHP Ty Rybarczyk will earn his first start of the season against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.
• Junior catcher Jacob Campbell began the season on a nine-game hit streak (eleven-game hit streak dating back to 5/29/2021).
• The Illini have recorded 12 hits in three games so far this season (Kansas 2/20, MTSU 2/25, MTSU 2/26).
• Illinois scored a season-high 10 runs against MTSU on 2/26.
• Sophomore LHP Payton Hutchings earned his first career start and first career win on February 20 against Kansas.
• Freshman OF Ryan Moerman started his first game against Kansas on February 20.
    » He picked up his first collegiate hit in the fourth inning, ae double to left-center field.
• D1Baseball Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 5 LHP Cole Kirschsieper, No. 17 RHP Riley Gowens, No. 20 SS Branden Comia, No. 27 1B Justin Janas.
• Baseball America Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 4 LHP Cole Kirschsieper.
• Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten team: 1B Justin Janas and C/OF Jacob Campbell.
• Perfect Game Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 4 LHP Cole Kirschsieper, No. 22 C Jacob Campbell, No. 24 INF Branden Comia.
• Illinois has 24 returners and 13 newcomers on the 2022 roster.
    » Four newcomers are transfers: OF Tyler Thompson (Carson-Newman), RHP Johnny Czeslawski (North Iowa Area C.C.), RHP Tommy Green (Mercer), and RHP Jack Wenninger (Murray State)
• Illinois' new $8-million, 26,000-square foot Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center is set to open in 2022.
