| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Sam Houston |
| Fri. 6:30 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (0-0, 3.72) |
RHP Coltin Atkinson (1-0, 1.50) |
| Sat. 3 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Crowder (0-0, 11.37) |
LHP Steven Beard (1-1, 6.30) |
| Sun. 1 p.m. CT |
RRHP Jack Wenninger (2-0, 4.22) |
RHP Logan Hewitt (1-1, 11.25) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team returns to action Friday in Huntsville Texas, where they face the Sam Houston Bearkats for three games at Don Taylor Stadium.
The Illini earned their first series win last week in Hattiesburg, Miss., taking two of three games from No. 18 Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park. Illinois became the first non-conference opponent since 2015 to win a series there and its 35 runs scored in the series were the most runs scored against the Golden Eagles in a three game series at Pete Taylor Park since Cal State Fullerton scored 36 runs in 2009.
The Orange and Blue will use the same rotation as the previous weekend, with right-hander Riley Gowens taking the mound for the Illini in the series opener. Gowens took no decision in his second start of the season, working 4.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits to go along with seven strikeouts. Right-hander Jack Crowder gets the ball again on Saturday and right-hander Jack Wenninger gets the call for Sunday's series finale. Wenninger earned hsi second straight-win after tossing 5.2 innings of three-run ball against Southern Miss in the series finale.
Saturday's contest against Sam Houston can be viewed on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Sam Houston
• Record: 3-2-1 (H: 0-0; A: 0-0; N: 3-2-1)
• Last: W, 6-4 (2/22/08, Edinburg, Texas)
• Illinois is unbeaten in the last four match ups (3 W, 1 T)
• First ever meeting not at a neutral site.
NOTES
• Illinois heads to Huntsville, Texas, to take on the Sam Houston Bearkats at Don Sanders Stadium.
» This will be the first ever matchup between the two programs that is not at a neutral site.
» First ever matchup between the two teams since Feb. 22, 2008. The Fighting Illini won that contest, 6-4, in Edinburg, Texas, at the Al Ogeltree Classic.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is second on the program's all-time win list with 511. He is just eight wins away from passing Lee Eilbracht (518) for the most in program history.
» Hartleb reached 500 career wins on May 7, 2022, with a win over Miami (0H).
• Illinois won it's first series of the season by taking two of three games over No. 18 Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park.
» The Illini became the first non-conference opponent since 2015 (Oakland) to win a series in Hattiesburg.
» Illinois scored a total of 35 runs in the series, the most runs scored against Southern Miss in a three game series at Pete Taylor Park since Cal State Fullerton scored 36 runs in 2009.
• INF Cal Hejza paced the Illini offensively in the series, going 6-for-12 (.500) at the dish, scoring six runs to go along with a double, two home runs and seven RBI. Hejza also drew three walks.
» Hejza posted his first multi-HR game of his career on Sunday, blasting a pair of three-run shots. The first of his two dingers was game-tying in the seventh and the second was a go-ahead shot in the ninth.
» Hejza became the first Illini since Jackson Raper on May 2, 2021, to have a seven RBI game.
» Slugged 1.083 and reached base at a .563 clip, good for a 1.646. All those figures are team-highs.
• OF Cam McDonald recorded the 200th hit of his Illini career with an RBI-triple during Sunday's seven-run sixth inning against Southern Miss.
» Finished the series going 7-for-16 at the plate with two-multi hit games.
» Posted a four-hit game on Saturday's extra-inning contest.
• INF Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 47 games, which dates back to last season, by going 3-for-16 with one home run, three RBI and three walks.
• OF Ryan Moerman went 6-for-14 in the series, also driving in seven runs.
» Moerman currently leads the team with 12 RBI...has four mutli-RBI games this season.
• C Camden Janik enters the series with a seven-game hitting streak, currently a career-high mark. Janik went 5-for-11 with two doubles and one RBI.
• Illinois has 22 returners and 14 newcomers on the 2023 roster.
» Eight newcomers are transfers: RHP Korey Bunselmeyer (Rend Lake), RHP TJ Constertina (St. Thomas), LHP John Lundgren (North Alabama), INF Coltin Quagliano (Illinois Central), C Jacob Schroeder (John A. Logan), OF Christian Smith (Vanderbilt), RHP Logan Tabeling (Wright State) and INF Drake Westcott (Louisville).
• The Illini return three all-Big Ten selections: Branden Comia (2nd), Cam McDonald (2nd) and Danny Doligale (3rd).
• Big Ten Preseason Honors: RHP Jack Crowder, RHP Riley Gowens, OF Cam McDonald.
• D1Baseball Big Ten top 2023 MLB Draft prospects: No. 23 RHP Jack Crowder
• D1Baseball top players:
» RHP Riley Gowens - SP No. 167
» INF Branden Comia - 3B No. 29
» OF Danny Doligale - OF No. 102
» OF Cam McDonald - OF No. 145
• Perfect Game Preseason Big Ten All-Conference: OF Cam McDonald.
• Perfect Game Big Ten top 2023 MLB Draft prospects: No. 24 Cam McDonald, No. 34 Branden Comia.
• Illinois' new $8-million, 26,000-square foot Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center opened in
September 2022.
UP NEXT
Illinois will travel to Conway, S.C., to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Springs Brooks Stadium for a three-game set.
