| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Purdue |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Kirschsieper
|
LHP Smeltz
|
| Sat. 3 p.m. CT |
RHP Gowens
|
TBA
|
| Sun. 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Crowder
|
TBA
|
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team is set to host Purdue this weekend for a three game series at Illinois Field. The Illini won three of five games against the Boilermakers in 2021, including a combined no-hitter on 4/25/21 in which the Illini won 1-0. Illinois also swept that weekend series against the Boilermakers.
Illinois (10-12) is coming off an 11-7 loss against Missouri on Tuesday night at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. Last weekend, the Illini won their first Big Ten series of the season, taking two of three games from Michigan State to begin conference play with a 2-1 record.
All three games will be streamed on B1G+. Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Purdue
• Record: 169-86-1 (H: 94-40; A: 72-44-1; N: 2-1)
• Last: W, 1-0 No-Hitter (4/25/21 at Purdue)
• Illinois took three of five from Purdue in 2021
• Illinois swept Purdue 4/23-4/25/2021
• Illinois has won five of the last seven series
NOTES
• Illinois hosts Purdue for the first home Big Ten series of the season at Illinois Field. Illinois went 3-2 against the Boilermakers in 2021, winning the last three matchups. The Illini have also won five of the last seven series against Purdue.
• 12 of the next 15 scheduled games are against opponents with a top 100 RPI ranking.
• Cam McDonald has hit safely in 20 consecutive games and has reached base in every game this season (22 game on-base streak).
• Illinois is averaging 6.55 runs per game in 22 games this season.
» Illinois has scored 10+ runs six times, going 5-1 in those games.
• Illinois has recorded 10+ hits in 14 of 22 games this season.
• Illinois has scored six or more runs in every win this season.
• Illinois ranks third in the Big Ten conference in team batting average (.283) and hits (223).
• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.352), RBI (24), HR (4), OPS (.988), total bases (49) and SLG% (.576). He is also second on the team in hits with 30.
• Danny Doligale ranks sixth in the Big Ten conference in doubles (9).
• Danny Doligale is 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts this season, good for eighth in the Big Ten conference.
• Illinois won the first Big Ten series of the season at Michigan State, taking two of three games from the Spartans (3/25-3/27).
• 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.
• 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.
