| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Indiana State |
| Tue. 5 p.m. CT |
RHP Calvin Shepherd |
RHP Brennyn Cutts |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team travels to Indiana State for a Tuesday evening midweek game against the Sycamores. Illinois (19-14, 10-2) is coming off a series sweep over Northwestern this weekend, their second B1G series sweep of the season and fourth series win.
The Illini won the last matchup with Indiana State in 2019 at Illinois Field, 5-2. Illinois is 10-5 against Indiana State since 2004. Freshman RHP Calvin Shepherd will get the ball for the third time this season while Indiana State will have RHP Brennyn Cutts on the mound.
Scott Beatty has the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Indiana State
• Record: 39-37-2 (H: 26-17-1, A: 12-20-1, N: 1-0)
• Last: W, 5-2 (5/1/19 at Illinois Field
• Illini are 10-5 vs. Indiana State since 2004
• Illinois swept three games in 2017
NOTES
• Illinois travels to Indiana State for a Tuesday night midweek matchup with the Sycamores. Illinois is 10-5 against Indiana State since 2004 and won the last matchup between the two teams in 2019.
• Cam McDonald has reached base safely in every game this season (44-game on-base streak dating back to 5/8/21).
» McDonald is now second on the Illini all-time on-base streak list
• Illinois is averaging 6.82 runs per game in 33 games this season.
» Illinois has scored 10+ runs ten times, going 9-1 in those games
• Illinois has recorded 10+ hits in 19 of 33 (58%) games this season.
• Head Coach Dan Hartleb is currently at 495 wins, just five short of the 500 mark.
• Illinois is 9-2 in the month of April.
• Illinois has scored six or more runs in every win but one this season.
• Illinois is 9-1 at home this season.
• Illinois is 10-2 in the Big Ten.
• Cam McDonald and Branden Comia each have 14 multi-hit games this season.
• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.359), hits (47), RBI (30), OPS (.985), and SLG (.565).
• Branden Comia leads the team in extra base hits (17) and runs (33).
• Justin Janas leads the Illini in OBP (.443) and HBP (13). His 13 HBP ranks second in the Big Ten.
• Cole Kirschsieper leads the team in ERA (2.75), IP (52.1), strikeouts (57), and starts (9). He has a 57-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
• Illinois has won every B1G series this season and has swept two of four B1G teams (Purdue and Northwestern).
• Illinois swept Northwestern in a three-game series at Illinois Field (4/15-4/17).
» The Illini have won eight of the last nine series against Northwestern
• Illinois swept Purdue in a three-game series at Illinois Field (4/1-4/3).
» The Illini have won the last six games against Purdue dating back to 2021
• 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).
• 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)
UP NEXT
Illinois hosts Maryland for a three game series at Illinois Field this weekend.
