Illinois Hosts Miami (Ohio) in B1G Bye Weekend

Probable Starting Pitchers
Day	Illinois		Miami (OH)
Fri. 6 p.m. CT	LHP Kirschsieper		RHP Brand
Sat. 3 p.m. CT	RHP Gowens		RHP Maxey
Sun. 1 p.m. CT	TBA		LHP McLean

PREVIEW

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team hosts Miami (Ohio) this weekend for a three-game series beginning Friday evening. Illinois (23-19, 12-6) is currently in fourth place in the Big Ten and is coming off a B1G series loss at Indiana last weekend. Illinois won its most recent game on Tuesday night, taking down Indiana State 6-3 in the final midweek game of the season. 

All three games this weekend will be streamed on B1G+. Scott Beatty has the radio call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network.

SERIES HISTORY

vs. Miami OH

• Record: 2-1 (H: 0-0 A: 0-0; N: 2-1)

• Last: L, 4-9 (3/15/08 in Sarasota Fla.)

• Illinois won the first matchup in 2001

• The two teams have only played at neutral sites

NOTES

• Illinois hosts Miami (OH) for the first series ever between the two teams. The Fighting Illini and the Redhawks have only played three games, and the Illini are 2-1 against Miami.

• Illinois is 11-3 at home this season.

• Illinois is 12-6 in the Big Ten.

• Cam McDonald has reached base safely in every game this season (53-game on-base streak dating back to 5/8/21).

    » McDonald is currently second on the Illini all-time on-base streak list, trailing Ben Troike (57 games).

• Illinois is averaging 7.36 runs per game in 42 games this season.

    » Illinois has scored 10+ runs 12 times, going 11-1 in those games

• Illinois has recorded 10+ hits in 25 of 42 (60%) games this season.

• Illinois is hitting .290 as a team which ranks third in the Big Ten. The Illini are also third in the Big Ten in hits (433).

• Head Coach Dan Hartleb is currently at 499 wins heading into the weekend.

• Illinois has scored six or more runs in all but one win this season.

• Cam McDonald leads the Illini in batting average (.371), RBI (45), and SLG (.569). His .371 batting average ranks fifth in the Big Ten.

• Justin Janas leads the Illini in OBP (.486), OPS (1.036), and HBP (22). His .486 OBP ranks fifth in the Big Ten and his 22 HBP ranks second.

• Cole Kirschsieper leads the team in ERA (3.25), IP (63.2), strikeouts (70), and starts (11).

• Illinois pitchers Cole Kirschsieper, Ty Rybarcyzk, and Ryan Kutt threw a combined two-hitter in a 19-1 win over Maryland on 4/22.

• Illinois has won four of six B1G series this season and has swept two B1G series (Purdue and Northwestern).

• Illinois swept Northwestern in a three-game series at Illinois Field (4/15-4/17).

    » The Illini have won eight of the last nine series against Northwestern

• Illinois swept Purdue in a three-game series at Illinois Field (4/1-4/3).

    » The Illini have won the last six games against Purdue dating back to 2021

• Illinois won the first Big Ten series of the season at Michigan State, taking two of three games from the Spartans (3/25-3/27).

• Junior catcher Jacob Campbell began the season on a nine-game hit streak (eleven-game hit streak dating back to 5/29/2021).

• Sophomore LHP Payton Hutchings earned his first career start and first career win on February 20 against Kansas.

• D1Baseball Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 5 LHP Cole Kirschsieper, No. 17 RHP Riley Gowens, No. 20 SS Branden Comia, No. 27 1B Justin Janas.

• Baseball America Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 4 LHP Cole Kirschsieper.

• Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten team: 1B Justin Janas and C/OF Jacob Campbell.

• Perfect Game Big Ten top 2022 MLB Draft prospects: No. 4 LHP Cole Kirschsieper, No. 22 C Jacob Campbell, No. 24 INF Branden Comia.

• Illinois has 24 returners and 13 newcomers on the 2022 roster.

    » Four newcomers are transfers: OF Tyler Thompson (Carson-Newman), RHP Johnny Czeslawski (North Iowa Area C.C.), RHP Tommy Green (Mercer), and RHP Jack Wenninger (Murray State)

• Illinois’ new $8-million, 26,000-square foot Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center is set to open in 2022.