| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois (13-14, 3-6) |
Indiana (23-10, 7-2) |
| Fri. 7:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 5.93) |
RHP Seti Manase (2-1, 1.52) |
| Sat. 5:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Jake Swartz (1-1, 4.29) |
RHP Luke Sinnard (3-1, 3.68) |
| Sun. 1:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (4-2, 4.17) |
TBA |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (13-14, 3-6) begins a season-long seven-game homestand by returning to Big Ten play with a three-game weekend series against Indiana (23-10, 7-2) at Illinois Field. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. CT first pitch, with 5:00 p.m. CT and 1:00 p.m. CT first pitches to follow on Saturday and Sunday. Friday and Sunday's ballgames will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, with Sunday's finale being streamed on BTN+.
Illinois heads into the series coming off its best game of the season offensively, setting season-high marks in runs (16) and hits (17) against Illinois State on Tuesday in Normal. Five different Illini batters had multi-hit games and three batters launched home runs in the contest.
The Orange and Blue will send right-hander Riley Gowens to the mound in Friday's series opener. Freshman right-hander Jake Swartz gets the ball Saturday and will make his second-straight weekend start of the season. Right-hander Jack Wenninger gets the call for Sunday's series finale. The trio combined for 21 strikeouts compared to just three walks in the series at Northwestern and posted an ERA of 3.38 (7 ER/18.2 IP).
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Indiana
• Record: 122-85-1 (H: 65-31, A: 51-49-1, N: 4-5)
• Last: L, 8-1 (5/27/22, Big Ten Tournament at Omaha)
• Indiana won 3 of 4 against Illinois in 2022
• First series in Champaign since 2019
• Illini have won 10 of last 14 at Illinois Field
NOTES
• Illinois begins a season-long seven-game homestand with a three-game Big Ten series against Indiana at Illinois Field.
» First series between the two programs at Illinois Field since 2019...the Illini took two of three games.
» The Illini have won 10 of their last 14 against the Hoosiers in Champaign, dating back to 2011.
» Indiana won three of four matchups last season, including knocking Illinois out of the Big Ten Tournament.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb earned win No. 519 on April 2 against Michigan, 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 had its best offensive output of the season on Tuesday in a 16-5 win over Illinois State in Normal.
» Scored a season-high 16 runs on a season-high 17 hits.
» Most runs and hits in a game since May 19, 2022, at Penn State.
» Was the seventh time this season that Illini batters slugged at least three home runs in a game...Illinois is 8-1 on the road this season when hitting multiple homers in a game, compared to just 2-3 at home when performing the same feat.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely, with 11 different Illinois hitters recording at least one hit.
» Five Illini batters had multi-hit games.
• OF Cam McDonald went 1-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a walk against Illinois State
» Extended his hitting streak to eight games...is batting .361 (13-for-36) during that span.
» Second time this season he has had a hitting streak reach at least eight games.
• INF Drake Westcott went 2-for-5 with a run, home run, five RBI and a walk against the Redbirds.
» His five RBI marked a career high...has nine RBI in his last six games.
» Hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season...six have gone to the opposite field.
• OF Danny Doligale went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double and a walk on Tuesday.
» Extended his hitting streak to a season-high five games...is batting .381 (8-for-21) during that span.
» Has a team-high 23 walks.
• RHP Jack Crowder did not factor in the decision in his start against Illinois State.
» 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
» First start since March 4 at Sam Houston.
• 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 continues this homestand by welcoming Eastern Illinois to Champaign on Tuesday, April 18. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
