Illinois baseball drops two to #15 Indiana

Things started out right against a tough #15 Indiana team but as the weekend wore on, things didn’t go Illinois’ way.

The Illini (25-14, 10-5 Big Ten) won a tight 2-1 game on Friday but Indiana won both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games.  With the series loss, Illinois drops to fourth place in the Big Ten and only a half game above Indiana (31-10, 9-5 Big Ten). 

Illinois’ normally explosive offense was kept to six runs for the three games against IU.  The Illini hope to gain some ground in the upcoming series against Ohio State this weekend at Illinois Field. 

 

 

 

 

Illinois got off to a great start on Friday night in what statistically was a bit of an odd night. 

Pitchers Andy Fisher and Ryan Thompson certainly kept the ball down all night.  For the game, there were 16 groundouts and nine strikeouts.  As for closer, Joey Gerber, he didn’t even let the Hoosiers hit the ball.  Three strikeouts.  Fisher earns his fourth win of the year and Joey Gerber his 13th save. 

Ben Troike went 2 for 4 with a double. 

Box Score

 

 

 

 

Oh, it was sooo close!

Quinn Snarskis spread out seven hits in seven innings and thanks to an great effort by the other ‘Q’ on the staff, Quinten Sefcik who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, it was tied 1-1.  A win was not in the cards for the Illini (or Ryan Thompson who is 7-3) as Indiana hit a walk-off homerun. 

Jack Yalowitz was 2 for 5 and drove in Illinois’ only run. 

Box Score

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, Indiana scored three runs early in the second inning and never looked back.  Illinois managed to close the gap to 4-2 by the top of the seventh but the Hoosiers came back with five more tallies in the bottom of the inning. 

Starter Ty Weber struck out nine in six innings but also gave up six runs. 

Michael Massey and Michael Michalak both collected two hits. 

Box Score

 

Random Ramblings

Illinois closer Joey Gerber is one of 41 pitchers that has been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch list.  Those who have seen Gerber in action in the ninth inning know why.  His 95 mph plus fastball is tough to hit and when we need to go 1-2-3, Gerber gets the job done. 

Gerber currently has 13 saves and only three pitchers have more than he does in the entire nation.

Probably most impressive, Joey Gerber has struck out 34 batters in only 20 1/3 innings. 

Other Illini in national rankings: Ryan Thompson 20th with 7 wins… Bren Spillane 1st with .969 slugging percentage and 3rd with .425 batting average and T3rd with 16 homeruns.

And if you’re wondering what promotions are in store for you in the next week’s game…

Absolutely huge week at Illinois Field.

Free admission every game.
Tue. » vs. SIU
Fri.-Sun. » vs. Ohio State

Fri. 6 p.m. » Bleacher Bum BBQ, free Hickory River, beer sales, fireworks
Sat. 3 p.m. » Free t-shirts
Sun. 1 p.m. » Free mini bats pic.twitter.com/JlBzQd6KVe

— Illini Baseball (@IlliniBaseball) April 30, 2018

 

 

Next up: 

We have a four-game homestand coming up.  This Tuesday, Coach Hartleb’s alma mater, Southern Illinois is coming to town.  Game time as Illinois Field is at 6pm. 

This weekend, the Ohio State Buckeyes will be visiting Champaign. 

 

Go Illini!