B1G Player of the Week Turchin helps Illinois win two of three in Greenville

 

With help from some big bats, Illinois baseball won two of three games down in Greenville, South Carolina.  For the weekend, Illinois outscored their opponents 31-13.  Their wins against Michigan State and Furman extended their winning streak to seven games until the Spartans shut them down Saturday afternoon. 

 

Doran Turchin owned one of those big bats and for his efforts, he was named Big Ten Player of the Week.  Opponents couldn’t keep him off the basepaths.   Turchin got on base 12 of 15 times for the weekend.  In addition, he hit .625 with three extra base hits.  One of those was a homerun which puts him at the lead of all Illini hitters. 

 

 

Congrats to Big Ten Player of the Week, @TurchinDoran.

☑ .625 batting average
☑ .800 on-base percentage
☑ 1.250 slugging percentage

» https://t.co/H3FHFSCNvk pic.twitter.com/fJE2jonNFX

— Illini Baseball (@IlliniBaseball) March 12, 2018

 

Bit by bit, Illinois baseball is creeping into the national polls.  Last week, they made it into the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll at #25 (they’re still there at #25).  This week, Baseball America lists Illinois at #24! 

If Illinois is looking for incentive, just look at Indiana at #18. 

 

 

 

Illinois challenged fellow Big Ten team, Michigan State on Friday but it wasn’t much of a contest.  The Illini scored 15 runs on 14 hits.  Ben Troike went 3 for 3 with three runs.  More than likely, it was Bren Spillane and Michael Massey who drove him home.  Spillane drove home three and Massey had four rbis.  Spillane homered and doubled while Massey contributed a two-run double and a single scoring two. 

 

Hard to believe but Quinn Snarskis earned just his first win on Friday.  He deserved it giving up just one run in six innings.  Quinten Sefcik went long relief dropping one hit in 2 2/3 innings. 

Box Score

 

 

 

Illinois’ bats kept hitting in the first game on Saturday. In a 14-5 win against Furman, Illinois earned thier seventh straight win. 

Ben Troike, again, had a superb game, hitting a single, triple and homerun.  That dinger was the first of his career.  Bren Spillane and Doran Turchin both contributed homers as well.  In fact, the top four in the lineup (Zac Taylor, Ben Troike, Jack Yalowitz and Bren Spillane) went 9 for 21 and drove in nine runs.

With his first win, we could say the same about Andy Fisher that we did Quinn Snarskis.  He did it in style allowing no earned runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings while striking out five.  Sean Leland got the boys out of trouble and pitched a scoreless ninth. 

Box Score

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois was finally shut down by Michigan State in the second game on Saturday.  The bats were silent as the Illini could only come up with three combined hits by Zac Taylor and David Craan. 

Ty Weber received the hard-luck loss as he spread out ten hits yet only gave up three runs (two earned).

After seven straight wins, the current winning streak comes to a end.

Box Score

 

Random Ramblings

Recently, FightingIllini.com announced the streaming schedule for all Big Ten baseball (and softball) games.  The schedule is substantial and you can view it here.  The first scheduled game available for streaming is this Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Panthers. 

 

Next up: The home opener is almost here!!  You will have to wait ONE MORE day however. 

Tuesday’s scheduled home opener has been rescheduled for Wednesday March 14.  Illinois will be taking on the Milwaukee Panthers (4-10).  The Gametime has also been changed to 3pm. 

 

Go Illini!!