University of Illinois
Coastal Carolina
Illini Baseball Set for Trio of Opponents at Coastal Carolina
February 22, 2024 | Baseball
Preview
| Illinois at #25 Coastal Carolina / / vs. Ball State // vs. Cincinnati | |
|---|---|
| When | February 23-24 |
| Where | Conway, S.C. (Springs Brooks Stadium) |
| Live Video | ESPN+ (2/23 at #25 Coastal Carolina) |
| Radio | WDWS AM-1400 // FightingIllini.com >> For 2/24 |
| Live Stats | FightingIllini.com |
| Notes | Illinois | Coastal Carolina | Ball State | Cincinnati |
| Shop | Online Store | Auctions |
| Social Media | @IlliniBaseball  | @IlliniBaseball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
| Probable Starting Pitchers | |||||||||
| Day | Illinois | Opponent | |||||||
| Fri. 2 p.m. CT | RHP Jack Crowder (0-0, 1.50) | RHP Riley Eikhoff (1-0, 0.00) - #25 Coastal Carolina | |||||||
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT | LHP Sam Reed (0-0, 2.25) | RHP Logan Schulfer (0-1, 4.50) - Ball State | |||||||
| Sat. 11 a.m. CT | LHP Regan Hall (1-0, 1.50) | RHP Nathan Taylor (0-0, 9.00) - Cincinnati | |||||||
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball heads to Conway, S.C., to take on a trio of opponents at Springs Brooks Stadium. The Illini will play a doubleheader on Friday, with an afternoon matchup against No. 25 Coastal Carolina before facing Ball State in the nightcap. The Orange and Blue are set to wrap up play on the weekend with a contest against Cincinnati on Saturday. First pitches are scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 11 a.m. CT, respectively.
Right-hander Jack Crowder is slated to make a second-straight series-opening start, as the senior takes the mound against the Chanticleers, and lefty Sam Reed is set to make the first start of his Illini career against the Cardinals. Freshman left-hander Regan Hall is scheduled to get the ball in Saturday's finale against the Bearcats.
Friday's ballgame against No. 25 Coastal Carolina can be viewed on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Coastal Carolina
- Record: 9-10 (H: 2-0, A: 6-10, N: 1-0)
- Last: W, 13-3 (3/11/23 at Coastal)
- Illini have won four of last six contests.
- Illinois was lone team to earn at least a series split at Coastal last season.
vs. Ball State
- Record: 7-2 (H: 5-0, A: 0-1, N: 2-1)
- Last: L, 2-1 (2/18/15 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
- All three neutral site matchups have taken place in South Carolina.
- Illinois has won three of last four overall.
vs. Cincinnati
- Record: 4-2 (H: 0-0, A: 3-2, N: 1-0)
- Last: W, 7-3 (2/29/11 in Clearwater, Fla.)
- First game in series history was played on April 13, 1925...Illinois won 4-3.
NOTES
• Illinois heads to Conway, S.C., for three games, taking on No. 25 Coastal Carolina, Ball State and Cincinnati.
» This marks the third-straight season that the Illini have traveled to Springs Brooks Stadium.
» No. 25 Coastal Carolina went 7-0-1 during weekend series at this facility in 2023...the Illini were the only team that earned at least a series split.
• Illinois went 2-2 during the opening weekend of the 2024 season, splitting a doubleheader vs. Akron, falling to No. 1 Wake Forest and defeating Fordham in the weekend finale.
» The Illini are now 6-2 in their last eight season openers.
• Illini pitching got off to a strong start to the season, posting team ERA of 2.97 (12 ER/36.1 IP) and tallying 37 strikeouts.
» Three of the four Illinois starters last weekend picked up nine strikeouts during their outings and two delivered quality starts.
• OF Cameron Chee-Aloy has started his collegiate career going 4-for-13 (.308) with six runs scored, three home runs, six RBI and two walks.
» Had a pair of go-ahead two-run homers during the doubleheader against Akron...the first of his career in the opener proved to be the game winner.
» Has hit safely in all four games this season.
• LHP Regan Hall also dazzled in his collegiate debut, earning the first win of his career vs. Fordham by tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits and whiffing nine batters.
• RHP Jack Crowder dominated in his first start of the season, getting the ball on opening day. He earned the win by twirling 6.0 innings of one-run ball and whiffing nine batters.
» First quality start since April 30, 2022, at Indiana.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb earned win No. 519 on April 2, 2023, vs. Michigan, passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history...currently has 534 career wins.
• Illinois has 21 returners and 16 newcomers on the 2024 roster.
» Nine newcomers are transfers: OF Asher Bradd (Illinois-Springfield), LHP Evan Clark (Southern California), LHP Reed Gannon (Kentucky), RHP Will Lavin (Bemidji State), RHP Decker Mac Neil (Santa Barbara City College), LHP Cooper Omans (Nova Southeastern), LHP Sam Reed (Eastern Michigan), RHP Jake Rons (Long Beach State) and INF Vytas Valincius (John A. Logan CC).
• The Illini return one All-Big Ten selection: Ryan Moerman (2nd).
• Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch: RHP Jack Crowder, OF Ryan Moerman, RHP Logan Tabeling.
• D1Baseball Big Ten Top 2024 MLB Draft Prospects: No. 28 RHP Jack Crowder, No. 31 RHP Logan Tabeling, No. 34 C Camden Janik.
• D1Baseball Big Ten Impact Freshman: No. 20 RHP Parker Burgess, No. 22 LHP Regan Hall, No. 24 OF Cameron Chee-Aloy.
• Perfect Game Big Ten Top 2024 MLB Draft Prospects: No. 16 RHP Jack Crowder, No. 21 OF Ryan Moerman, No. 37 RHP Logan Tabeling, No. 41 INF Drake Westcott.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns to Champaign for its home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 27, where they will face the Eastern Illinois Panthers. First pitch from Illinois Field is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
