Illinois vs. Michigan
When	March 31- April 2
Where	Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Live Video	BTN+ ($) | Fri. | Sat.  // BTN (Sun.)
Radio	WDWS 1400-AM | FightingIllini.com
Live Stats	FightingIllini.com
Notes	Illinois | Michigan
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniBaseball | @IlliniBaseball | Facebook | YouTube

PREVIEW

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (11-10, 1-2), returns to Illinois Field on Friday to host Michigan (13-11, 3-0) for a three-game set in Champaign. Friday's contest is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CT first pitch, with 1:00 p.m. CT and 1:30 p.m. CT first pitches to follow on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday and Saturday's ballgames can be streamed on BTN+, while Sunday's game will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.

Illinois looks to rebound following a narrow, one-run midweek loss to Missouri at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. In the 6-5 defeat, Ryan Moerman homered and drove in three runs, bringing his team-high total to 24 on the season.

The Orange and Blue will send right-hander Riley Gowens to the mound on Friday. Gowens last worked in the series opener against Nebraska on March 24, suffering his first loss of the season.

Freshman right-hander Julius Sanchez gets the ball Saturday, making his fifth start of the season. Sanchez took the loss on March 25 at Nebraska, but allowed just two earned runs over 5.1 innings of work, allowing just three hits and striking out five.

Right-hander Jack Wenninger gets the call for Sunday's series finale. Wenninger tossed his first quality start of the season on March 26 at Nebraska, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings of work, scattering five hits and whiffing six batters.

SERIES HISTORY

vs. Michigan

• Record: 108-145-2 (H: 55-67-2; A: 47-70; N: 6-8)
• Last: L, 7-5 (5/26/22 in Omaha)
• First series in Champaign since 2016
• Went 3-3 against Michigan in 2021
• Michigan eliminated Illinois from 2022 Big Ten Tournament

NOTES

• Illinois returns to Illinois Field for Big Ten action against Michigan.

    » Illinois welcomes Michigan to Champaign for the first time since 2016...the Illini took two of three games in that series...went 2-2 in the Evanston pod during the 2021 season.

    » The Illini were eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament last season by Michigan....also eliminated in the tournament by the Wolverines in the 2019 tournament.

• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is tied for first on the program's all-time win list with 518. He is just one win away from passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history. 

    » Hartleb reached 500 career wins on May 7, 2022, with a win over Miami (0H).

• Illinois suffered a one-run loss on Tuesday in Braggin' Rights to Missouri at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.

    » The Illini are now 1-2 in one-run games this season...are now 4-2 in neutral site games.

• OF Ryan Moerman picked up his team-leading 24th RBI with his three-RBI performance against Missouri.

    » Went 2-for-3 with a run, home run and a sacrifice fly.

    » First time this season homering in back-to-back games this season.

    » Has eight multi-RBI games on the season.

    » Extended his hitting streak to a season-high matching four games.

• INF Brody Harding went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks against Missouri.

    » Extended his hitting streak to a season-high three games.

    » Third game this season drawing at least two walks.

• RHP Jake Swartz whiffed a career-high seven batters in his Braggin' Rights start.

    » Has struck out 15 batters and issued just three walks in his last three starts.

• RHP Korey Bunselmeyer worked 2.2 scoreless innings in relief on Tuesday, fanning three batters.

    » Has not allowed an earned run in his last 5.1 innings of work, spanning three games.

• INF Branden Comia's on-base streak ended at 60 games.

    » Was the second-longest streak in program history.

    » Was just four games away from surpassing the program record of 63, set by Cam McDonald last season.

• 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 welcomes Illinois State to Champaign for a midweek contest at Illinois Field. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.