| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Michigan State |
| Fri. 12Â p.m. CT (Game one) |
LHP Kirschsieper
|
RHP Cook
|
| Fri. 3:30Â p.m. CT (Game two) |
TBA
|
LHP Powers
|
| Sat. 12 p.m. CT |
RHP Crowder
|
RHP Tomasic
|
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team heads to East Lansing this weekend for a three-game series to begin Big Ten conference competition. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday followed by a single game on Saturday. The Illini won three of four games against the Spartans in 2021. Illinois (8-10) is coming off a 13-5 win over Wheaton on Wednesday at Illinois Field. Last weekend, the Illini dropped two of three games at Southern Illinois.
All three games will be streamed on B1G+. Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Michigan State
• Record: 83-71 (H: 46-29, A: 30-37, N: 7-5)
• Last: W, 15-8 (4/17/21 at Illinois Field)
• Illinois won three of four in 2021 at Mich & Ill
• Illinois won two of three at MSU in 2019
• Teams played two non-conference games in 2018
NOTES
• Illinois opens Big Ten conference play with a trip to East Lansing and a three-game series against Michigan State. Illinois won three of four against the Spartans in 2021.
• Illinois leads the all-time series 83-71 against Michigan State.
• Illinois has recorded 12 or more hits in four of the last five games and six of the last eight.
• Cam McDonald has hit safely in 16 consecutive games and has reached base in every game this season (18 game on-base streak).
• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.348), RBI (21), HR (4), OPS (1.004), total bases (41) and SLG% (.594). He is also second on the team in hits with 26.
• 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 has scored 13 runs twice this season (vs. Butler on 3/15, vs. Wheaton on 3/23).
• Illinois won their first series of the season at Western Kentucky (3/11-3/13), taking two of three games against the Hilltoppers.
• 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.
