| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Nebraska |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Kirschsieper
|
RHP Schanaman/Frank
|
| Sat. 3Â p.m. CT |
RHP Gowens
|
LHPÂ Olson
|
| Sun. 2 p.m. CT |
TBA
|
TBA
|
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team hosts Nebraska this weekend for the final home series of the season beginning Friday evening. Illinois (26-19, 12-6) is currently in fifth place in the Big Ten and is coming off a series sweep of Miami (OH) last weekend. Nebraska is 19-27 (7-11 B1G) and won one of three at Minnesota last weekend.
Friday's game will be on ESPNU, while Sunday's game is on ESPN2. Saturday afternoon will be streamed on B1G+. Brian Barnhart has the radio call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Nebraska
• Record: 15-12 (H: 9-5; A: 5-7; N: 1-0)
• Last: L, 7-12 (4/4/21 at Illinois Field)
• Illini are 12-12 since Nebraska joined B1G
• Nebraska won 2 of 3 in Champaign in 2021
• Illini won 2 of 3 in Lincoln in 2019
NOTES
• Illinois returns to Big Ten play, hosting Nebraska for the final home series of the season. The Illini are 15-12 all-time against Nebraska and 12-12 since the Huskers joined the Big Ten.• Illinois will recognize 11 seniors prior to Sunday's game.
• Illinois is 14-3 at home this season.
• Illinois is 12-6 and currently in fifth place in the Big Ten heading into the weekend.
• Cam McDonald has reached base safely in every game this season (56-game on-base streak dating back to 5/8/21).
    » McDonald is currently second on the Illini all-time on-base streak list, just one game from tying Ben Troike's Illinois record (57 games).
• Illinois is averaging 7.15 runs per game in 45 games this season.
    » Illinois has scored 10+ runs 12 times, going 11-1 in those games
• Illinois has recorded 10+ hits in 27 of 45 (60%) games this season.
• Illinois is hitting .291 as a team which ranks third in the Big Ten. The Illini are second in the Big Ten in fielding percentage (.978).
• Head Coach Dan Hartleb reached 500 career wins on 5/7/22 with a win over Miami (0H).
• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.371), RBI (48), and SLG (.562). His .371 batting average ranks sixth in the Big Ten.
• Justin Janas leads the Illini in OBP (.492), OPS (1.048), and HBP (23). His .492 OBP ranks third in the Big Ten and his 23 HBP is tied for fourth in the nation.
• Cole Kirschsieper leads the team in ERA (2.93), IP (70.2), strikeouts (73), and starts (12). His 2.93 ERA ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 70.2 innings ranks fourth.
• Illinois pitchers Cole Kirschsieper, Ty Rybarcyzk, and Ryan Kutt threw a combined two-hitter in a 19-1 win over Maryland on 4/22.
• Illinois has won four of six B1G series this season and has swept two B1G series (Purdue and Northwestern).
• Illinois swept Miami (OH) in a three-game series at Illinois Field (5/7-5/8).
    » The sweep was the Illini's third of the season (Purdue, 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).
• 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.
