| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois (15-18, 4-8) |
Minnesota (10-24, 4-5) |
| Fri. 3:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 6.00) |
LHP Tucker Novotny (1-4, 4.56) |
| Sat. 3:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Jake Swartz (1-2, 5.55) |
RHP George Klassen (1-5, 5.35) |
| Sun. 1:00 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (4-3, 5.08) |
RHP Richie Holetz (2-3, 3.50) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (15-18, 4-8) closes out their season-long seven-game homestand with a Big Ten weekend series against Minnesota (10-24, 4-5) at Illinois Field. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. CT first pitch, with 3:00 p.m. CT and 1:00 p.m. CT first pitches to follow on Saturday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday's ballgames will be streamed on B1G+, with Sunday's finale being broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Illinois heads into the series coming off a 12-inning, 1-0, midweek defeat to Eastern Illinois. Freshman Julius Sanchez tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in the start, followed by 3.0 scoreless innings each from Jack Crowder and Joe Glassey. Cam McDonald also appeared in the 200th game of his Illini career.
The Orange and Blue are scheduled to send right-hander Riley Gowens to the mound in Friday's series opener. Freshman right-hander Jake Swartz is slated to get the ball Saturday and will make his third-straight weekend start of the season. Right-hander Jack Wenninger is set to get the call for Sunday's series finale.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Minnesota
• Record: 107-112-1 (H: 46-46-1; A: 59-56; N: 2-10)
• Last: L, 3-5 (3/15/21 at Minnesota)
• Illini won three of four in 2021 at U.S. Bank
• Illini won two of three in 2017 and 2019
• First series in Champaign since 2016
NOTES
• Illinois wraps up this season-long seven-game homestand with a weekend Big Ten series against Minnesota.
» The Illini won four of five during the 2021 season over the Golden Gophers...have won five of the last seven overall.
» Won two of three in the last three-game series between the two programs in 2019.
» First series in Champaign since 2016...Minnesota took two of three games.
• 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 dropped a midweek contest to Eastern Illinois on Tuesday at Illinois Field in a narrow 1-0 defeat in 12 innings.
» First time being shutout in a game since April 10, 2021.
» Most innings played in a game this season...the Illini are 0-2 in extra-inning games.
» Have dropped two-straight to Eastern Illinois for the first time since April 12-20, 2011.
» Have lost three-straight games or the second time this season.
• RHP Julius Sanchez worked 5.0 scoreless innings in his start against Eastern Illinois, but did not factor into the decision.
» Was his longest outing since March 25 at Nebraska...first scoreless start of the season.
» Has not allowed an earned run in his last 7.0 innings of work, spanning two games...longest scoreless streak of his career.
» Has struck out four batters and walked none in his last 7.0 innings on the mound.
• RHP Jack Crowder and RHP Joe Glassey each turned in 3.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen on Tuesday, combining to allow just one hit while striking out five.
» Crowder turned in the longest relief outing of the season, also picking up a season-high four strikeouts.
• OF Cam McDonald played in the 200th game of his Illini career on Tuesday.
» Is 16 games away from being tied for 10th in games played in program history...is six starts away from being tied for 10th in career starts.
» Is also nine hits away from tied for tenth all time in program history.
• 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 makes the short trip to Peoria, Ill., to take on Bradley on Tuesday, April 25. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
