| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Coastal Carolina |
| Fri. 3 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (0-0, 5.79) |
RHP Jacob Morrison (1-0, 5.74) |
| Sat. 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Julius Sanchez (0-2, 6.30) |
LHP Levi Huesman (1-0, 2.45) |
| Sun. 11:30 a.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (2-0, 5.40) |
RHP Matthew Potok (0-0, 7.20) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team returns to action Friday in Conway, S.C., where they face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for three games at Springs Brooks Stadium, to cap off its 13-game road trip to begin the season.
The Illini earned their second-straight series win last week in Huntsville, Texas, taking two of three games from Sam Houston at Don Sanders Stadium. Illinois took the series opener, 8-5, and slugged a season-high four home runs in Saturday's 8-3 victory before falling 10-6 in Sunday's series finale. The Illini have won five-straight three-game series dating back to last season.
The Orange and Blue will send right-hander Riley Gowens to the mound for the in the series opener. Gowens took no decision in his third start of the season last Friday against the Bearkats, working 4.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits to go along with five strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Julius Sanchez gets the ball again Saturday, making his second start of the season, and right-hander Jack Wenninger gets the call for Sunday's series finale.
All three games against Coastal Carolina can be viewed on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Coastal Carolina
• Record: 8-9 (H: 2-0, A: 5-9, N: 1-0)
• Last: L, 6-2 (2/26/22 at Coastal)
• Illini have won three of last four contests
• Coastal won 2016 College World Series
• 1-1 in three-game series against Coastal
NOTES
• Illinois heads to Conway, S.C., to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Springs Brooks Stadium.
» Have faced off every year since 2014, except for when Illinois played a Big Ten only schedule in 2021.
» First three-game series between the two programs since 2017.
» The Illini have won three of the last four matchups against the Chanticleers.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is second on the program's all-time win list with 512. He is just six 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 (OH).
• Illinois won its second-straight series of the season by taking two of three games over Sam Houston at Don Sanders Stadium.
» Was the first three-game series between the two programs. Was also the first matchup between the two teams that was not at a neutral site.
» Illinois slugged a season-high four home runs in Saturday's 8-3 victory.
• OF Christian Smith picked up the first four hits of his collegiate career in Friday's series opener against the Bearkats, going 4-for-4 with three runs, two doubles and a triple. Smith came just feet away from hitting for the cycle in the eighth when his second double of the contest hit near the top of the wall in right.
» His triple in the second inning was the first of his collegiate and Illini career.
» Second Illini batter this season to have a four-hit game.
» Finished the series going 4-for-8 at the dish with four runs, three extra-base hits and walk.
• C Camden Janik continued his torrid start to the season by going 4-for-13 with three runs, one home run, four RBI and two walks against Sam Houston.
» Is the only Illini batter to hit safely in all 10 games this season. His 10-game hitting streak is a career- high mark.
• INF Drake Westcott went 3-for-12 with three runs, two home runs, four RBI and three walks in the series against Sam Houston.
» Homered in both Saturday and Sunday's contests. Is the first Illini batter this season to homer in consecutive games.
• INF Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 50 games, which dates back to last season.
• OF Danny Doligale drew a team-high six walks against Sam Houston.
» Had multi-walk games on Friday and Saturday. Has five such games overall this season.
» Has earned a free pass in seven of 10 games this 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 returns to Champaign for its home opener on March 14 vs. Indiana State, with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. CT.
