CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini (28-25, 14-16 B1G) secured the No. 9 seed and will begin Big Ten Tournament play on Tuesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. CT against No. 8-seeded Iowa. The sides met during the regular season from May 1-3, with the Hawkeyes taking a 2-1 series win in Iowa City, Iowa.
Illinois will play either No. 5-seeded Purdue or No. 12-seeded Michigan State on Wednesday.
The Big Ten Tournament now features a double-elimination bracket that will see four teams advance to an eight-team single-elimination bracket. Teams seeded 5-12 will compete in the double-elimination bracket, while the top four teams have earned a bye into the single-elimination bracket and will begin their postseason on Friday.
The Illini are set to make their 15th Big Ten Tournament appearance under head coach Dan Hartleb.
The Big Ten Network will broadcast every game of the tournament. Games will also be available on the FOX Sports App.
LAST TIME OUT
After posting a 10-inning win over Indiana on Friday, Illinois dropped its final game of the regular season, 11-2, on the road to the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini enter the Big Ten Tournament with a 28-25 record and a 14-16 mark in Big Ten play.
Cole Warehime posted his third three-hit day of the season, going 3-for-4 while tallying his first Big Ten home run on a solo shot in the fifth. J.R. Nelson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo homer, his third long ball of the year.
ILLINOIS AT THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
This will be Illinois' seventh straight appearance at the Big Ten Tournament and the program's 28th overall appearance.
The Illini have an overall record of 33-46 in the tournament and have claimed tournament crowns in 1989, 1990, 2000 and 2011.
The Orange and Blue have appeared in seven of the nine tournaments played at Charles Schwab Field Omaha and have an overall record of 5-13 at this facility.
In 2025, the No. 11-seeded Illini went 1-1 at the Big Ten Tournament, defeating [7] Michigan in extra innings before falling to [2] UCLA.
FLINN ACCEPTS INVITE TO 2026 USA BASEBALL COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP
Fighting Illini freshman Aidan Flinn has accepted an invitation to the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, the organization announced.
Flinn will take part in training camp from June 24-July 5 and will look to earn a roster spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, which will compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan. The competition – featuring collegiate national teams from Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Korea – will take place July 11-15 at Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.
The Mokena, Ill., native will compete with CNT Stripes during training camp in Cary, N.C. The squad's exhibition slate includes games against teams in the Appalachian League prior to the Stars vs. Stripes Series, which will run from June 30-July 4.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb was named the manager for the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on Feb. 18.
In his first season with the Fighting Illini, Flinn has recorded a 2.67 ERA across his 14 appearances and 12 starts thus far. Recording 54 innings of work during the regular season, Flinn has tallied 51 strikeouts and 0.87 WHIP while holding opposing batters to a .188 average.
STARTING ROTATION SHINES VS. NORTHWESTERN
During Illinois' sweep of Northwestern on May 8-10, the Fighting Illini pitching staff allowed just six runs, while the team's starters – LHP Regan Hall, LHP Aidan Flinn, and RHP Sam Mommer – combined for 15 scoreless innings.
Hall started the weekend with five shutout innings and seven strikeouts in the Illini's 12-0 run-rule win on Friday. Flinn followed it up with five scoreless frames and five strikeouts while allowing only one hit in Illinois' 4-3 victory on Saturday. In the series finale on Sunday, Mommer recorded five scoreless innings while giving up only one hit and striking out two in the Orange and Blue's 10-3 triumph.
FLINN EARNS B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fighting Illini freshman pitcher Aidan Flinn was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Flinn fired five scoreless frames while striking out five and allowing only one hit in Illinois' 4-3 win over Northwestern on Saturday night.
The Mokena, Illinois, native allowed only two baserunners across his five innings of work. He retired the final nine batters he faced, including back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth.
Following his third consecutive start that spanned at least five innings, Flinn lowered his ERA to 2.57 across his 13 appearances.
He is the second Illini to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season, as AJ Putty earned the recognition on Feb. 23. The Orange and Blue have garnered multiple Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the first time since the 2017 season.
GROVES CLIMBS ILLINI ON-BASE STREAK LIST
OF Nick Groves reached base in 42 consecutive games between April 29, 2025, and April 5, 2026, which ranks as the fourth-longest stretch by an Illini since 2004. He reached base safely in each of his first 29 appearances to start the 2026 season.
The streak came to an end against Indiana State on April 7.
ON-BASE STREAKS SINCE 2004
- Cam McDonald (2021-22)...........................63 games
- Branden Comia (2022-23)...........................60 games
- Ben Troike (2017-18)...................................57 games
- Nick Groves (2025-26)...............................42 games
- Kyle Hudson (2008).....................................38 games
ILLINI DEFEAT #20 NEBRASKA FOR THIRD RANKED WIN
Illinois opened its weekend series against No. 20 Nebraska with a 10-5 win over the ranked Cornhuskers on April 24.
A three-hit day from Jack Zebig and a grand slam from Will Johannes fueled the Fighting Illini offense, while Regan Hall got the start and tossed seven innings en route to his sixth victory of the season.
Jack Zebig went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Michael Farina and Nick Groves both tallied two hits with two runs scored. AJ Putty accounted for two RBI of his own.
On the mound, Hall went seven innings with six strikeouts, while Sam Mommer threw two scoreless frames in relief.
Zebig's two-out home run in the first opened the scoring before the hosts plated six in the bottom of the third. Johannes' grand slam highlighted the high-scoring inning as the Illini batted around and took a 7-0 advantage.
After the Huskers got on the board with the game's next four runs, the Orange and Blue answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Groves, Zebig, and Putty all drove in a run in the frame as the home side extended their lead to 10-4 through six.
Nebraska cut into its deficit with a run in the top of the seventh, but Mommer efficiently ended the game with back-to-back zeros in the eighth and ninth to seal the Illini win.
SCHUPMANN'S WALKOFF SENDS ILLINI PAST #19 OREGON
The Fighting Illini used a three-run walkoff home run from Kyle Schupmann to cap off a wild day at Illinois Field, with the Orange and Blue defeating No. 19 Oregon, 16-13, on April 19.
The Illini recorded 12 runs over the final three innings, with the sides combining to score 21 times across the last three frames of the day.
Schupmann delivered the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth, finishing his 2-for-5 day at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Michael Farina reached base four times and tallied three hits while scoring twice.
Nick Groves, J.R. Nelson, and AJ Putty all posted multi-hit days of their own. Groves and Nelson each generated two RBI, while Putty also drew three walks and scored three times.
On the mound, Sam Mommer secured the victory, tossing the final 1.2 innings without conceding a run while only allowing one baserunner.
PUTTY NAMED MIDSEASON FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Freshman first baseman AJ Putty was named a Midseason Freshman First Team All-American by Perfect Game, the organization announced on April 1.
Putty was one of two Big Ten players on the list, joined by Oregon outfielder Angel Laya.
Through the first 27 games of his collegiate career, Putty hit .342 with four home runs, 33 RBI, and 10 doubles while starting all 27 contests.
ILLINI PITCHERS STAR IN SERIES WIN VS. MINNESOTA
The Illini pitching staff combined to allow just four runs in the team's series win against Minnesota on March 13-14 at Illinois Field.
It marked the Illini's fewest runs allowed in a three-game series since May 7-8, 2022, vs. Miami (Ohio), when the staff conceded just three runs. It was also the program's fewest runs allowed in a three-game Big Ten series since May 9-11, 2014, at Iowa (four runs).
ILLINI GO 3-0 AT FIRST PITCH INVITATIONAL
Illinois went perfect at the First Pitch Invitational at the Greenville Drive's Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. The Illini defeated Michigan State, Charleston, and UAlbany over the course of the three-day event.
The Illini kicked off the weekend with a 10-inning win, 5-4, over Michigan State on Friday afternoon. Michael Farina delivered the game-winning hit in extras, Daniel Contreras and Nick Groves tallied three hits apiece, and Kyle Remington pitched the final three innings in relief en route to victory.
On Saturday, the Illini continued their winning ways with their first shutout of the season, a 5-0 victory over Charleston. Regan Hall earned the win with his six shutout innings before Aidan Flinn and Reed Gannon combined for three scoreless frames in relief. Hall allowed five hits while striking out seven, Flinn finished with three strikeouts across two innings, while Gannon recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth.
Closing out the weekend with a 14-6 win over UAlbany, Illinois saw Michael Farina and Kyle Schupmann both register three hits, while Collin Jennings and AJ Putty posted three RBI apiece. The Illini used nine pitchers during the contest, with Mitch Dye earning the victory behind his 2.2 shutout innings with two strikeouts.
ILLINOIS RECORDS ROAD UPSET OF #6 COASTAL CAROLINA
The final game of Baseball at the Beach saw Illinois secure its first ranked victory of the season with a 14-5 upset road win over No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Feb. 22.
The Fighting Illini offense exploded for a season-high 14 runs and 17 hits, with six Illini hitters registering multiple hits. The triumph marked head coach Dan Hartleb's 600th of his collegiate managerial career.
Freshman AJ Putty highlighted the offensive dominance with five hits, including four for extra bases, and seven RBI. His grand slam in the first inning was the second home run of his career, while he finished the day with 11 total bases.
Kyle Schupmann secured a 3-for-5 day at the plate while scoring three runs, while Will Johannes went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Nick Groves, Michael Farina, and Daniel Contreras all tallied two hits on the day.
Regan Hall recorded the win on the mound during his 5.1 innings of work, while Kyle Remington tossed 3.2 innings of one-hit, shutout ball in relief en route to the save.
The win marked the Illini's first ranked victory since April 30, 2024, when Illinois defeated #24 Indiana State.
The Illini earned their first ranked road win since Feb. 26, 2023, when Illinois defeated No. Southern Miss away from home. It was the Illini's first top-10 road win since March 8, 2015, when Illinois defeated No. 10 Oklahoma State, and it was the Illini's highest ranked road win since March 8, 2009, when Illinois defeated No. 1 LSU.
DAN HARTLEB REACHES 600 CAREER WINS
With Illinois' win at No. 6 Coastal Carolina, Dan Hartleb secured the 600th victory of his collegiate managerial career.
Currently in his 21st season at the helm of the program in 2026, Hartleb is the winningest coach in Illini baseball history. During his tenure, he has led the Orange and Blue to three Big Ten championships, one Big Ten Tournament title, five NCAA Regional appearances, and one NCAA Super Regional appearance with the Illini.
Along with being named Big Ten Coach of the Year two times, Hartleb was named Big Coach of the Decade (2010s) by D1Baseball.
As he enters his 36th season overall at Illinois, Hartleb has seen 155 players earn Big Ten All-Conference honors under his watch, with 47 of those players earning first-team selections. He has also coached a total of 27 All-Americans and 110 players who have gone on to play professionally.
Among active Big Ten coaches, Hartleb is one of two coaches who have spent at least 20 seasons as head coach at their current school (John Savage, UCLA, 22nd season in 2026).
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
Illinois has 16 returners and 18 newcomers on its roster.
Thirteen newcomers are transfers: C Daniel Contreras (Illinois State), OF Cole Crafton (Louisville), INF Michael Farina (Southeastern CC), LHP Tore Indomenico (Notre Dame), RHP Ryan Johnson (Georgia Tech), RHP Richie LaCien (Lawrence University), RHP Olivier Martel (Mineral Area College), RHP Liam McKillop (SIUE), RHP Sam Mommer (Wisconsin-Parkside), INF J.R. Nelson (Ohio), RHP Ryan Ohm (Iowa Central CC), RHP Kyle Remington (Minnesota), and OF/1B Cole Warehime (SEMO).
The Illini roster includes five freshmen, all of whom hail from the state of Illinois: LHP Aidan Flinn (Mokena), INF Lucas Krebs (Edwardsville), INF AJ Putty (McHenry), OF/RHP Foti Rigopoulos (Galena), and RHP Ike Young (Cisco).
PUTTY NAMED B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (FEB. 23)
Fighting Illini freshman infielder AJ Putty was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career following a standout second week of the 2026 season, the conference office announced on Feb. 23.
Across Illinois' four games from Feb. 17-22, Putty went 9-for-17 with five doubles, a grand slam, and 11 RBI while starting each contest at first base.
A native of McHenry, Illinois, Putty marked his home debut with a 3-for-5 day at the plate against Butler, driving in two runs while scoring twice and hitting two doubles. He registered multiple RBI three days later in the Illini's victory over VCU, reaching base twice via a walk and a single.
His biggest performance of the week came in the Illini's upset road win over No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Sunday. The freshman first baseman went 5-for-6 with four extra-base hits, seven RBI, and 11 total bases. His grand slam in the first inning marked the second home run of his collegiate career, while his five hits and three doubles were tied for the most by a Big Ten player in a game at the time.
Putty held a team-high batting average of .414 through the first seven college games while slugging a team-best .828. His 12 hits, six doubles, 24 total bases, and 13 RBI also led the team.
He was the first Illini to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week in nearly nine years, when former Illini and current Kansas City Royal Michael Massey received the honor on May 1, 2017.
NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Two Illini baseball players were selected to the watch list for the 21st Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award.
Left-hander Zach Bates and right-hander Mitch Dye were both named to the list.
Bates is coming off of a breakout 2025 season, during which he amassed 34 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work last season over 23 relief appearances. He ended the year with an ERA of 2.83 to go along with a team-high eight saves.
During the 2025 season, Dye put together 23.0 innings of work to go along with 29 strikeouts. He amassed 21 relief appearances and ended the season with an ERA of 7.43. Dye also added one save on the year.
ILLINI TRIO NAMED TO B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
The Fighting Illini saw three student-athletes honored on the Big Ten Players to Watch list, the conference office announced.
Junior outfielder Collin Jennings, junior left-handed pitcher Regan Hall, and senior outfielder Nick Groves were all recognized with preseason honors for the first time in their respective careers.
Jennings put together a breakout sophomore season in 2025, hitting 16 home runs and driving in 61 runs, the latter of which were the most by an Illini since 2008. Tabbed with preseason All-Big Ten honors from Perfect Game, the Orland Park, Ill., native was also named one of the nation's top 100 collegiate juniors by the organization.
Hall heads into the 2026 season after securing a team-high seven wins on the mound for the Illini as a sophomore. Going 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA in the month of April in 2025, the New Mexico native finished his sophomore season with 67.2 innings pitched across 12 starts and 14 total appearances. He recorded his first complete game against Indiana on April 13.
Groves appeared in 43 games, making 41 starts, for the Illini in his first season with the program in 2025. Tallying a slash line of .324/.493/.385, his .493 on-base percentage ranked fifth in Big Ten last season, while his 15 stolen bases were tied for the seventh-most in the conference. He entered 2026 with an active on-base streak of 13 games
ONES TO WATCH
Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten
OF Collin Jennings
Perfect Game Top 100 Collegiate Juniors
No. 77 - OF Collin Jennings
Perfect Game Top 2026 B1G Draft Prospects
No. 9 - OF Collin Jennings
Perfect Game Top 2027 B1G Draft Prospects
No. 16 - LHP/OF Brayden Mazzacano
No. 19 - C/OF Luke Landrus
Perfect Game Top 2028 B1G Draft Prospects
No. 13 - RHP Ike Young
D1Baseball Preseason Second Baseman Rankings
No. 46 - Jack Zebig
D1Baseball Preseason Third Baseman Rankings
No. 25 - Kyle Schupmann
D1Baseball Preseason Outfielder Rankings
No. 99 - Collin Jennings
D1Baseball Preseason Relief Pitcher Rankings
No. 65 - Zach Bates
D1Baseball Top 2026 B1G Draft Prospects
No. 16 - OF Collin Jennings
No. 53 - 2B Jack Zebig
No. 54 - LHP Zach Bates
D1Baseball Top 2027 B1G Draft Prospects
No. 17 - RHP Ryan Johnson
No. 23 - OF Cole Crafton
No. 26 - LHP/OF Brayden Mazzacano
D1Baseball Top Impact B1G Freshmen
No. 15 - RHP Ike Young
No. 26 - LHP Aidan Flinn
