For this week’s two midweek games, we’re playing two state universities… Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois. Don’t look at their records. Both are tough in their own way.
As for us, we’re even-steven. The Illini are 13-13 overall and 3-3 against the Big Ten.
Let’s take a look at both teams.
Eastern Illinois Panthers |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2010 | 6:05 pm ct | |||
| Illinois Field | Champaign, IL | |||
| Program website link | Record | 9-21 (Ohio Valley 4-5) | ||
| Head Coach: | Jim Schmitz | Key player: | Zach Borenstein | |
Zach Borenstein leads the team in doubles (10), homers (6), rbis (28), and runs scored (27).
Time was playing EIU had extra special meaning because Illinois had three or four players from the Mattoon area (Kyle Hudson and Ryan Hastings were a couple from there). The coach from the Mattoon high school would make the trip to the ballgame to see his former ballplayer make good.
I was a little surprised to see EIU’s 9-21 overall record. Eastern has been pretty tough in past years both in general and against Illinois. But this year, they’ve had their troubles. EIU has had a bad case of homesickness in 2010. They are 6-2 at home but suffer from a 3-15 record away from Coaches Stadium.
Their hitting isn’t overpowering though they have a few players have a bit of pop (see Zach Borenstein). Overall, it looks like they aren’t taking advantage of baserunners… they’ve been outscored 206-163.
There’s one feather in Eastern’s cap. In mid-March, they beat Ohio State who were ranked #27 at the time by the score of 7-6.
Southern Illinois Salukis |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2010 | 6:30 pm ct | |||
| Rent One Park | Marion, IL | |||
| Program website link | Record | 15-16 (Missouri Valley 4-4) | ||
| Head Coach: | Dan Callahan | Key player: | Chris Serritella | |
Yikes! Look out for Chris Serritella. He’s having a fantastic year at the plate. His 10 homeruns lead the Missouri Valley Conference. He also has 34 rbis and 29 runs which are tops on the Salukis.
No talk of Southern Illinois University baseball program is complete without mention of the Hartleb connection. Coach Hartleb is an alum of SIU. Not only did Hartleb play for the Salukis (he was a catcher who hefted a pretty mean stick, I hear), he also was the head coach for the team before coming to Illinois.
The game will be taking place at Rent One Park which is the home of the independent Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners. I’ve never been to Rent One but I’ve heard it’s a very nice park. They have the same kind of field turf that we do at Illinois Field.
Random Ramblings
The Daily Illini has a good article on our series against Iowa last weekend. I say “good” as in the coverage not that the outcome is any different.
FightingIllini.com has posted its latest installment of Retrospectives. This time, it’s the 1950s. Featured is Lee Eilbrecht and Russ Steger. 
Looks like Illini baseball will be adding some extra color to its radio broadcast for the balance of this season. Broadcaster Dave Loane will be joined by various Illini sports personalities including former player Mike Rohde (seen right back in 2007) and former head coach Itch Jones. You can see the full list of scheduled radio analysts at fightingillini.com.
Finally, Katie Lutes, sister of Craig Lutes got her photo on the front page of the sports section of the Daily Illini today. Katie plays for the University of Illinois softball team. You’ll find the photo in the Daily Illini’s softball photo gallery
Good Luck Illini!!!