| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois (22-22, 11-10) |
Rutgers (30-18, 11-7) |
| Fri. 5 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Crowder (3-2, 8.29) |
RHP Christian Coppola (4-4, 3.29) |
| Sat. 5 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (5-3, 4.36) |
RHP Drew Conover (5-3, 4.08) |
| Sun. 11 a.m. CT |
TBA |
TBA |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (22-22, 11-10) hits the road for their final Big Ten series of the season against Rutgers (30-18, 11-7) at Bainton Field in Piscataway, N.J. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. CT first pitch, as does Saturday's contest. Sunday's game will be played at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, N.J., home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed on B1G+.
Illinois heads into the series coming off a series sweep of Michigan State at Illinois Field. The Illini walked off the Spartans in the series opener, before slugging their way to victories over the weekend, combining for 11 home runs over the final two games of the series. Drake Westcott, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, mashed five home runs in the series and has hit at least two home runs in two-straight games.
The Orange and Blue are scheduled to send right-hander Jack Crowder to the mound in Friday's series opener with Jack Wenninger slated to get the ball Saturday. Sunday's starter for the series finale is to be announced.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Rutgers
• Record: 9-4 (H: 6-0; A: 2-4; N: 1-0)
• Last: L, 3-6 (5/29/21 at Rutgers)
• Rutgers won two of three in 2021
• Illini swept three games in 2015 and 2018
• First met 3/20/89 (W, 4-0 at Coral Gables, Fla.)
NOTES
• Illinois heads to Piscataway, N.J., for its final Big Ten series of the 2023 season.
» First visit to Rutgers since 2021...Illini dropped two of three games to the Scarlet Knights that series.
» Illinois is 2-4 at Rutgers overall.
» Illini have won four of the last six games between the two programs.
» Sunday's contest will be played at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, N.J., home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb earned win No. 519 on April 2 against Michigan, passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history...currently has 529 career wins.
» Hartleb reached 500 career wins on May 7, 2022, with a win over Miami (0H).
• Illinois is coming off a series sweep against Michigan State at Illinois Field last weekend, its second-straight series sweep of a Big Ten opponent at Illinois Field.
» Walked-off the Spartans in the series opener on May 5.
» The Illini homered five times on March 6 and then a season-high six times in the series opener on May 7...Illinois homered a total of 14 times in the series, its most in a three-game span this season.
» Illinois has won a season-high three-straight games for the third time this season.
• INF Drake Westcott went 8-for-15 with eight runs, five home runs and 10 RBI in the series against Michigan State.
» Was named Big Ten Player of the Week...first Illini batter to earn weekly conference honors since Kellen Sarver on May 25, 2021.
» Hit three home runs on May 6...first Illini batter with a three-home run game since Bren Spillane on March 17, 2018...followed that contest up with a two-home run performance on May 7...first Illini batter this season to have consecutive multi-homer games.
» Westcott's 17 home runs this season are the most by an Illinois batter in a single season since Spillane hit 23 in 2018..Westcott trails Josh Klimek (12, 1996) for the most in a Big Ten season in program history.
• INF Branden Comia went 2-for-5 with a run, home run and two RBI in the series finale against Michigan State.
» Played in his 200th-career game in his Illini career on May 7
» Extended his hitting streak to five games...is batting .444 (11-for-25) during that span with three home runs and five RBI during that span.
» Has picked up an RBI in four-straight games...has three-straight two-hit games.
• OF Cam McDonald picked up career hit No. 243 on May 7, which ranks tied for ninth in program history.
• RHP Logan Tabeling turned in 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, picking up one strikeout in the series finale against Michigan State.
» Has not allowed a run in his last four appearances, totaling 4.2 innings pitched...has just two hits during that span.
• Illinois batters hit a season-high six home runs in the ballgame on May 7.
» Have hit at least five home runs in back-to-back games...have hit at least three home runs in four-straight.
» Have hit a total of 44 home runs during Big Ten play this season, setting a new program record for a 24-game conference slate...previous record was 30...hit a total of 14 home runs in the series.
» Have hit a total of 80 home runs this season, ranks third in the Big Ten...trail single-season program record by 11 (91).
• 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 final series of the regular season against UT-Martin. First pitch of Thursday's series opener is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
