| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois (23-24, 12-12) |
UT Martin (21-31, 14-10) |
| Thurs. 6 p.m. CT |
RHP Jack Wenninger (6-3, 4.69) |
RHP Seth Petry (3-4, 6.72) |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
TBA |
TBA |
| Sat. 1 p.m. CT |
TBA |
TBA |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (23-24, 12-12) returns to Champaign for the final series of the season against UT Martin (21-31, 14-10) at Illinois Field, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Thursday's series opener is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CT first pitch, as does Friday's contest. Saturday's game, the regular season finale, has a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch. All games will be streamed on B1G+.
Illinois heads into the series coming off a series loss on the road to Rutgers. The Illini finish the Big Ten season with a 12-12 record, and have now finished at .500 or better in conference play for four-straight years.
The Orange and Blue are scheduled to send right-hander Jack Wenninger to the mound in Thursday's series opener with Friday and Saturday's starters to be announced.
Thursday's featured promo is 9 Innings of Winning, where fans will have the chance to win a different prize that will be raffled off each inning.
ITEMS TO BE RAFFLED OFF
- Coach Shauna Green signed basketball
- Coach Bruce Weber signed basketball
- Coach Dan Hartleb signed baseball
- Frank Williams State Farm Center banner
- Signed 2001 men's basketball Big Ten Tournament Champions photo
- Men's basketball bobblehead set
- Flyin' Illini replica jersey
- State Farm Center replica display
- Illinois baseball cap
Friday will be Senior Night at Illinois Field, where fans are invited to join us pregame as 11 student-athletes and two student-managers will be honored for their contributions to the Illini baseball program.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. UT Martin
• First-ever meeting between the two programs.
NOTES
• Illinois returns to Champaign to face UT Martin for its final series of the 2023 season.
» First-ever meeting between the Illini and the Skyhawks.
• 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 530 career wins.
» Hartleb reached 500 career wins on May 7, 2022, with a win over Miami (0H).
• Illinois wrapped up Big Ten play last weekend, falling in two of three games to Rutgers.
» Split the two games played at Bainton Field in Piscataway, N.J...fell in Sunday's finale at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, N.J.
» Illinois did not hit a home run for the first time in eight games on May 13...was the second time this season scoring nine runs without hitting a home run...third time scoring at least eight runs without a home run.
» Illinois recorded double-digit hit totals on May 12 and 13...had recorded double-digit hits in five-straight games, a new season-high mark, before that streak was snapped on Sunday.
» The Illini were blanked for the first time this season in the series final on May 14...first time being shutout by a Big Ten opponent since April 10, 2021, at Indiana.
• INF Branden Comia went 4-for-12 with two runs, a double, two RBI and a walk in the Series against Rutgers.
» Extended his hitting streak to eight games...is batting .405 (15-for-37) with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI during that span.
» Is now tied for 10th in program history in hits (243).
» Became the first Illini to steal home since Bren Spillane on May 26, 2018, on May 13.
» Has five multi-hit games in his last eight.
• OF Cam McDonald now has 249 hits in his Illini career, which ranks ninth in program history.
• LHP Alex Vera tossed 2.2 innings in relief in the series finale against Rutgers, scattering four hits and striking out two.
» Has not allowed a run in his last 3.2 innings pitched, spanning two games.
• OF Connor Milton went 2-for-4 with a double on May 14.
» Career-high two hits...third double of the season.
• RHP Korey Bunselmeyer worked 2.0 scoreless frames to earn his second save of the season on May 13.
» Has not allowed a run in his last 4.0 innings of work, spanning three games.
• RHP Joe Glassey tossed 4.1 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit in the series opener on May 12.
» Struck out three batters and issued two walks.
» Fourth scoreless outing in relief with at least 3.0 innings pitched.
• Illinois batters hit a total of 46 home runs during Big Ten play this season, setting a new program record for a 24-game conference slate...previous record was 30.
» Have hit a total of 82 home runs this season, ranks third in the Big Ten...trail single-season program record by nine (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 awaits to see if they will be one of the eight teams to make it to Omaha for the 2023 Big Ten Tournament. The Illini can finish no better than the No. 7 seed and would be scheduled to play again on Tuesday, May 23.
