| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Nebraska |
| Fri. 6:05 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (1-0, 4.33) |
LHP Emmett Olson (3-1, 3.34) |
| Sat. 2:02 p.m. CT |
RHP Julius Sanchez (0-2, 8.31) |
RHP Jace Kaminska (4-0, 1.86) |
| Sun. 1:05 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (2-1, 5.03) |
TBA |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team returns to action Friday in Lincoln, Neb., where they begin Big Ten play against Nebraska at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
The Illini earned their first home win of the season on Tuesday, defeating Bradley, 6-4, in midweek action.
The Orange and Blue will send right-hander Riley Gowens to the mound for the in the series opener. Gowens earned his first win of the season after working a career-high 8.0 innings in the series opener vs. Southern Illinois. Gowens allowed two runs, while scattering seven hits. The Libertyville, Ill., native, whiffed 10 batters in the contest and issued no walks.
Freshman right-hander Julius Sanchez gets the ball Saturday, making his fourth start of the season. Sanchez last worked on March 18 vs. Southern Illinois, taking no decision after allowing eight runs, seven earned, in 3.0 innings of work.
Right-hander Jack Wenninger gets the call for Sunday's series finale. Wenninger suffered his first loss of the season in Sunday's series finale against the Salukis despite a 10-strikeout outing over 5.1 innings.
All three games against Nebraska can be viewed on BTN+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Nebraska
• Record: 17-13 (H: 11-6; A: 5-7; N: 1-0)
• Last: W, 5-4 (5/15/22 at Illinois Field)
• Illini are 14-13 since Nebraska joined B1G
• First series in Lincoln since 2019
• Teams are 3-3 in last two series
NOTES
• Illinois heads to Lincoln, Neb., to open up Big Ten play with a three-game set against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Haymarket Park.
» The Illini took two of three from the Cornhuskers at Illinois Field last season...Illinois is 3-3 in its last six against Nebraska.
» Illinois is making its first trip to Lincoln since 2019...the Illini won that series, also taking two of three...the Illini are 5-7 all-time in Lincoln.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is second on the program's all-time win list with 517. He is just two 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 earned its first victory at home this season, claiming a 6-4 win over Bradley on Tuesday.
» Game was originally slated to be played in Peoria, Ill., but moved because of forecasted inclement weather.
• INF Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 57 games after going 2-for-3 with a run and two walks.
» He is just six games away from matching Cam McDonald's program record of 63 games, which was set last season.
• INF Drake Westcott went 2-for-3 with a run, home run, three RBI and a walk.
» Westcott has three homers in his last three games.
» Has six RBI in his last three games...has four games with three RBI or more this season...ranks second on the team with 17 RBI.
» Has drawn a walk in 13 of 17 games this season...ranks second on the team with 15 total walks.
• C Camden Janik went 1-for-3 with a run, home run and an RBI.
» Has reached base safely in all 17 games this season...one of two Illini batters to do so (B. Comia).
» Has four homers this season.
• OF Cam McDonald extended his hitting streak to nine games after going 1-for-5 with a run.
» Is batting .308 (12-for-39) with five doubles, one home run, five RBI and three walks during that span.
• OF Connor Milton went 1-for-3 with a run, double, a walk and a stolen base in his second-straight start.
• RHP TJ Constertina worked 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out two.
» Has not allowed a run in his last three outings, spanning 4.2 innings.
• 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 heads to Sauget, Ill., to take on Missouri in Braggin' Rights at GSC Credit Union Ballpark on Tuesday, March 28. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
