| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Bradley |
| Tue. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Sam Reed (1-1, 10.43) |
TBA |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball is set to host Bradley in a midweek tilt to wrap up this four-game homestand. It will be the only meeting this season between the two programs.
The Illini are coming off of their first series win of the season, taking two of three games from Southern Indiana. The Orange and Blue won a pair of one-run games on Friday and Saturday before dropping Sunday's series finale.
LHP Sam Reed (1-1, 10.43) is scheduled to make his first start at Illinois Field this season.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Bradley
- Record: 45-24-1 (H: 24-12-1, A: 18-12, N: 3-0)
- Last: L, 7-6 (4/25/23 at Peoria, Ill.)
- Illini have won three of last four matchups.
- Illinois has won just one of last five home contests.
NOTES
MIDWEEK ACTION AT ILLINOIS FIELD
Illinois baseball concludes a four-game homestand as they welcome Bradley to Illinois Field for a midweek showdown.
This is the lone meeting this season between the in-state programs.
The contest can be streamed on B1G+.
Scott Beatty will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM/93.9FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Bradley enters the weekend 6-12, coming off of a weekend series win over Butler in Winter Haven, Fla., including a 21-11 win on Sunday.
IF Isaac Sobieszczyk leas the Braves at the plate with a .324 average and a .429 on-base percentage. Among starters, RHP Noah Edders leads on the mound, going 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA (14 ER/29.2 IP) to go along with 29 strikeouts.
Bradley went 16-32 overall in 2023.
ALL-TIME SERIES INFO
Illinois leads the all-time series 45-24-1, including 24-12-1 at this facility. The Illini defeated the Braves 6-4 on March 21, 2023, snapping a four-game losing skid at home to Bradley.
Illinois has won three of the past four matchups overall.
CROWDER SHINES
Jack Crowder turned in the second quality start of his season on Friday, allowing one run over 7.0 innings of work, striking out five.
It marked a career-high in innings for the senior, who becomes the first Illini pitcher this season to have multiple quality starts.
Crowder leads the Orange and Blue pitching staff with 27 strikeouts this season, which also ranks 10th among Big Ten arms.
WALK IT OFF
The Fighting Illini earned their first walk-off win of the season on Friday, scoring twice with two outs in the ninth to take the series opener vs. Southern Indiana. Ryan Moerman tied the game on a passed ball and Cameron Chee-Aloy plated Christian Smith with a single to win it.
Illinois had two walk-off victories last season, the most recent being May 5, 2023, vs. Michigan State.
QUICK START
Drake Westcott homered in the first inning against Southern Indiana on Friday, marking the fourth time in the last eight games that the Illini have put runs on the board their first time up to bat.
The first inning is Illinois highest-scoring frame, where the offense has scored 18 of its 94 runs this season.
KOREY IN THE HOUSE
Korey Bunselmeyer made two appearances over the weekend and did not allow an earned run. He yielded three hits while striking out five over 3.1 innings of work.
Bunselmeyer began the weekend with a career-high 2.0 shutout frames on Friday, punching out a career-high four batters to keep Illinois within a run during the game.
The senior then tossed 1.1 frames on Sunday, allowing a run, unearned, whiffing one batter. Bunselmeyer's 3.1 scoreless streak is a season long.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Bloomington, Ind., to open Big Ten play on Friday vs. Indiana in a three-game set. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. CT.
