| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Eastern Illinois |
| Tue. 4 p.m. CT |
RHP Ty Rybarczyk (0-0, 1.93) |
RHP Jackson Nichols (0-0, 2.70) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team is set to host Eastern Illinois at Illinois Field for the Illini's home opener Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT. Illinois is coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Cambria College Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. The Illini picked up their first ranked win of the season on Saturday, a 6-2 victory over No. 25 West Virginia.
Junior RHP Ty Rybarczyk is scheduled to get the start against Eastern Illinois, his first time getting the nod this season. Illinois is 55-24 all-time against EIU and has won the last five meetings.Â
Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network. Illinois will provide a video stream via B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Eastern Illinois
• Record: 55-24 (H: 36-12; A: 13-11; N: 5-2)
• Last: W, 5-4 (4/19/2016 in Mattoon, Ill.)
• Illinois won the first meeting, 3-2 on 5/17/1960
• Illini have won the last five meetings
NOTES
• Illinois is hosting Eastern Illinois for the 2022 Illinois Field season opener.
• Junior RHP Ty Rybarczyk will earn his first start of the season against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.
• Junior catcher Jacob Campbell has recorded a hit in every game this season (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.
• Freshman OF Ryan Moerman leads the Illini in batting average (.321) and is second on the team in on base percentage (.406) through the first nine games.
• 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.
UP NEXT
Illinois travels to Western Kentucky for a three-game series in Bowling Green, Ky. Friday-Sunday.Â
