Illinois hopes to regroup after a less-than-stellar weekend in South Carolina. Traveling to the Mountain Time Zone, they visit Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. They have a three-game series versus the Lopes starting Friday.
The Illini started out the season 6-0 but ran into a roadblock last weekend losing three games out of four. Despite the losing weekend, Illinois is still ranked #30 by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.
While the Illini didn’t win every game, some players brought their hitting shoes. In particular, Kellen Sarver is on a six-game hitting streak. He’s currently batting .385 with seven runs scored. Zac Taylor continues to be the offensive juggernaut. At, .366 with five doubles and three homers, Zac has translated his talent into ten runs scored and seven rbis.
On the hill for the Illini this weekend
- Friday: Andy Fisher – 1-1, 4.50 ERA
- Saturday: Weber – 0-0, 0.79 ERA
- Sunday: Watson – 1-0, 3.12 ERA
It will be Weber’s second start of the season. While he doesn’t have any decisions yet, the Illini have won all three game he’s pitched.
An overview of the weekend
| Grand Canyon University Lopes | |
| GCU Ballpark | |
| Friday, March 8 | 7:30pm CT Saturday, March 9 | 3pm CT Sunday, March 10 | 2pm CT |  |
Skippered by former big-leaguer Andy Stankiewicz, GCU is currently at an even 6-6 record right now. They’ve proven they can score big on occasion (12 runs against Ball State) but their pitching has also given up the long ball as well (14 runs against Stanford and 17 versus TCU).
They are coming off of a walk-off run on Thursday so the Lopes’ spirits are high.
FightingIllini.com preview for the weekend
Random Ramblings
As I write this snow is falling on the U of I campus. It’s hard to believe that in eight days, we will be watching baseball at Illinois Field. With any luck, the snow will melt and the weather will be nice for a season opener.
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the marketing promotions for the 2019 Illinois baseball season. We see some of traditional fare plus a couple of new additions. Something new… it’s GOAT Day which includes a live petting zoo on Illinois Field grounds (thanks and apologies to those having to clean up after that event!).
Mark May 3 on your calendar. That is the big day for the Bleacher Bum BBQ which draws Illinois baseball’s largest crowds each year.
Dates to remember
- Opening Day (March 15)
- Big Ten Opener (April 5)
- Country Night (April 5)
- Little League Day (April 6)
- Moms’ Day (April 6)
- Bark in the Park (April 7)
- 9 Innings of Winning (April 19)
- Bunny at the Ballpark (April 20, April 21)
- Bleacher Bum BBQ (May 3)
- Derby Day (May 4)
- GOAT Day (May 5)
- 90s Night (May 10)
- Honor and Serve (May 11)
- Senior Day (May 12)
A few of those games will even be televised. Illinois baseball announced that five Illinois baseball games will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network.
- Tue., April 2 vs. Coastal Carolina (6 p.m. CT)
- Sun., April 14 at Minnesota (2 p.m. CT)
- Fri., April 19 vs. Penn State (7:30 p.m. CT)
- Fri., April 26 at Nebraska (7:30 p.m. CT)
- Sun., May 12 vs. Purdue (4 p.m. CT)
Three of those games will be hosted by Illinois including a match up with the currently ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
Good luck, Illini!