Illinois is heading to East Lansing for their last regular season series of the 2019 against the Michigan State Spartans. With the Big Ten Baseball Tournament next weekend, it will be an early weekend for the boys as the series schedule begins on Thursday.
In one way, the pressure is off the Illini have already clinched a spot in the tourney. That’s always a great situation to be in. Illinois (34-16, 13-8 Big Ten) can improve the seed in the Big Ten Tourney with every win, however. More importantly, the NCAA decision-makers will be watching and the first round Regionals need a home field. Rumor has it, that University of Illinois is still being considered. A good performance this weekend and at the tournament is a must.
Illinois, who is ranked as high as #23 right now, is getting hot at the perfect time. They started out the conference season 1-5 but climbed out of the slump to a Big Ten mark of 13-8. They have won five in a row and twelve of their last fifteen games.
First things first, though.
Pitching Probables
- Thursday: Andy Fisher 6-1, 2.53 ERA
- Friday: Ty Weber 4-1, 2.48 ERA
- Saturday: Cyrillo Watson 4-2, 3.82 ERA
Our starting three are getting the job done with an impressive 14-4 record. The team ERA is only 3.55 second in the conference to Michigan’s 3.25.
| Michigan State Spartans | |
| McLane Baseball Stadium | |
| Thursday, May 16 | 4:30 pm CT Friday, May 17 | 5:35 pm CT Saturday, May 18 | 12:05 pm CT |  |
Spartan Spins
The Spartans are 7-13 and only Penn State has a lower conference record. In fact, Michigan State has the worst overall record in the Big Ten at 19-32.
However, two things favor the Spartans this weekend. One, they have a decent home record at 10-6. The other, they have come alive as of late. They have split their last ten games including a 2-1 series win against tough Iowa team.
Adam Proctor probably has the most interesting stats on the MSU roster. He is batting .158 but eight of his fifteen hits have gone yard.
Random Ramblings
With the end of the academic semester and baseball season, we say goodbye to the graduating seniors who have been with the team. It has always been a bittersweet time since these players have contributed so much to our team in their own individual ways.
On FightingIllini.com, you can read Senior Letters that the graduating seniors wrote to each other. Touching really.
Guys, good luck in the future whatever it may bring you. Remember, you are always welcome at Illinois Field.
But before you go, let’s make this season last as long as we can, okay?
Go get ’em, Illini!