| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Southern Illinois |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Kirschsieper
|
LHP Lewis
|
| Sat. 2 p.m. CT |
RHP Gowens
|
RHP Farmer
|
| Sun. 1Â p.m. CT |
TBA
|
TBA
|
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team heads to Carbondale this weekend for three games at Southern Illinois for the first time since 2019. Illinois has won five of the last six meetings with the Salukis.
Illinois (6-8) is coming off a dominant 13-4 win over Butler on Tuesday. Last weekend, the Illini won their first series of the season, taking two of three games at Western Kentucky.
There will not be a video stream this weekend. Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Southern Illinois
• Record: 42-10 (H: 18-17; A: 18-20; N: 6-3)
• Last: L, 3-12 (4/30/2019 in Carbondale
• Illinois has won five of the last six
• Illinois won the first meeting on 5/4/1954
NOTES
• Illinois travels to Carbondale to play Southern Illinois for the first time since 2019.
• Cam McDonald has hit safely in 12 consecutive games and has reached base in every game this season (14 game on-base streak).
• Illinois has scored six or more runs in every win this season.
• The Illinois offense has scored 36 runs in the past four games.
• Illinois scored a season-high 13 runs against Butler on 3/15.
• Illinois won their first series of the season at Western Kentucky (3/11-3/13), taking two of three games against the Hilltoppers.
• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.327), RBI (15), OPS (1.003), and SLG% (.596).
• Junior catcher Jacob Campbell began the season on a nine-game hit streak (eleven-game hit streak dating back to 5/29/2021).
• 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, a 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.
