This week’s midgame game has the Illini travel to St Louis to play St Louis University Billikens on Wednesday evening. And before anyone asks, this is what a Billiken is:
In 1908, Florence Pretz, an art teacher and illustrator in Kansas City, Mo., received a patent for her version of an ancient Asian figure, a chubby character with pixie ears, fat cheeks and an ear-to-ear grin. A year later, the Billiken Company of Chicago adopted the likeness, giving it its eventual name. Initially manufactured as a bank and statuette, the Billiken reached its peak of popularity in 1911, when it was widely recognized as a universal symbol of good fortune.
Whatever… on to more important things.
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Game #35 |
Record: 23-11 (8-4 Big Ten) |
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vs St Louis University Bllikens | St Louis, MO |
| April 22 | 6:30pm CT |
St Louis is having a .500 season (20-20 overall) with better luck at home. Right now, they’re in the midst of a four game losing streak having lost six of their last eight. Of course, you could look at it two ways. Illinois is catching them while their down or alternatively, they’re due for a win.
Playing in the Atlantic 10, the Billikens have decent power as well as decent speed and are in the middle of the pack batting wise. Their 5.54 ERA actually lands in the middle of Atlantic 10 as well.
How did we do against them last year? Our hurlers took a no-hitter against St Louis into the 9th inning before surrendering the first safety. Illinois won that game in 2008 9-2. Dom Altobelli hit a homerun in that game..
Opponent:
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St Louis University Billikens |
| Conference: | Atlantic 10 |
| Head Coach: | Darin Hendrickson (1st year) |
| Current Record: | 20-20 (6-8 Atlantic 10) |
| Baseball Program website | Team Media Guide |
| St Louis Team Facts: | St Louis was 24-29 last year but enjoyed a 13-7 home record. This year, they are still enjoying home success at 14-6. |
| St Louis Players to Watch: | Zach Miller, last week’s Billiken Athlete of the Week, combines power and average. He hits .338 with 8 homeruns and 48 rbis. |