With the tourney on the horizon, Illini baseball tackles Big Blue

 

Last weekend, Illinois baseball won their first series in Ann Arbor in fifteen years! 

They didn’t waste time scoring ten runs on Friday then scoring another ten on Saturday.  On Sunday, the Illini scored two in the top in the ninth to force an extra inning game but couldn’t quite get the sweep.  Overall, the Illini outscored the Wolverines 24-12 for the weekend.

Illinois is now 29-17 and 13-8 in the Big Ten.  That puts them in them in fifth place and a game and a half above sixth place Indiana. 

With one more three-game series left at home starting Thursday, the Illini are looking to improve their standing going into the Big Ten Baseball Tournament which starts next week. 

 

 

 

 

Friday night at Ann Arbor couldn’t have gone any easier. 

Sparked by a three-run double by Michael Massey, Illinois scored five in the second inning and never looked back.  Bren Spillane hit homers in fifth and sixth innings just to make sure while Doran Turchin (who is really is on a tear if you check the stats) hit a two run double in the seventh. 

Meanwhile, Quinn Snarskis continues to show his stuff.  In six innings, he spread out five hits and three walks to give up just one Michigan run.  For the 2018 season, he is 6-1 and now sports a nice 3.06 ERA. 

Box Score

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, Illinois scored ten runs against the tough Michigan team for the second day in a row. 

Offensively, it was Grant Van Scoy’s day.  He drove in a career high five runs on three hits.  That included a second inning two-run homerun.  Zac Taylor also went yard in the sixth with two men on base. 

Starting pitcher Andy Fisher had me refreshing GameDay every few seconds.  He had a no-hitter going with one out in the sixth inning.  In fact, through five full innings, Fisher retired the minimum amount of batters.  Fisher got the win, giving up two runs in seven innings.  He ups his record to 5-2. 

Box Score

 

 

Oh, I really thought the Illini would pull this out!

Down most of the game, Illinois loaded the bases and Jack Yalowitz hit a 2-run single to tie the game 4-4.  The game lasted till the 11th inning when a Michigan sac fly decided the game. 

David Craan who made two starts this weekend as catcher, hit a solo homer in the fifth inning. 

Once again, Ty Weber, who allowed just five hits and no walks in six innings, wasn’t helped by the defense.  He gave up four runs but only one was earned.  Overall, the Illini committed three errors. 

Box Score

 

Random Ramblings

 

Bren Spillane now ranks #2 all time for one season among Illini for hitting the longball.  Can he reach Josh Klimek’s 1996 record?  Well, it will take six homeruns to do it and he has at least three games to do it. 

I’d like to see him try! 

Ben Troike is now at 51 straight games getting on base going back to last season.  Needless to say, he has gotten on base every game this year.  It’s a very real possibility that it could happen. 

 

Finally, I would like to recognize the passing of Tom Fletcher last week.  Very few people have had the effect on Illinois baseball like Fletcher had.  As a pitcher, he was an All-American selection and a first team All-Big Ten choice in 1962.  That year, Detroit drafted him.  He played six years in the minor leagues and even made it to majors for a cup of coffee. 

Fletcher’s effect on Illinois baseball continues.  His son is Darrin who also went on to be a star for Illinois breaking many all time records.  Darrin of course, went on to play in the majors for fourteen years. Tom Fletcher’s grandson Casey Fletcher played brilliantly for the Orange and Blue and you can now see him in the role of first base coach. 

I would like to send my condolences to the entire Fletcher family. 

 

Next up: 

Three more games left in the regulation season!  Don’t forget, the Nebraska series this “weekend” will start on Thursday.  Illinois will host the Cornhuskers at 6pm on Thursday. 

 

Go Illini!