After an electric conference sweep last weekend, Illinois baseball looks forward to adding more to the ‘W’ column. They travel to Columbus to play the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Before we talk more of the future, I would be remiss if I didn’t recap a little last weekend’s three-game sweep against Minnesota. Overall, it was a case of good timing and clutch hitting. The pitching was there to let the offense do its work.
Friday Illinois 9 Minnesota 3
Jacob Schroeder, Ryan Moerman and Branden Comia powered the Illinois offense. Combined, they went 6 for 8 with two homeruns and seven rbis. Coltin Quagliano got a start at second base and rewarded us with a two-run homer.
Riley Gowens earned a very deserved win for Friday’s game. He struck out nine in six plus innings while allowing just one run.
Saturday Illinois 5 Minnesota 3
It was Branden Comia again on Saturday. This time ‘B’ hit a clutch two-run homerun to give the Illini the lead for good in the sixth inning.
And what an effort by pitcher Jack Crowder! He pitched the last four innings of Saturday’s game for the win. Crowder gave up just two hits, no walks while striking out five.
Sunday Illinois 6 Minnesota 5
Where to begin with Sunday’s game? Wow!
What an exciting game on Sunday! It’s not just me. The crowd went wild and players felt it too. Just look at Brody Harding’s face.
Down by two runs with two outs in the bottom of ninth, it looked pretty dreary for the Illini. Drake Westcott gave the home fans some hope hitting a solo dinger to dead center. The Gopher gardner had us fooled and for a few of us (Westcott included) weren’t sure if it cleared the wall. Indeed it did and the Illini were down by just one.
Ryan Moerman kept the rally going by rapping a base hit. Enter Jacob Schroeder who already had solo homer earlier in the game.
It didn’t take long. With the first pitch, Schroeder’s homerun to center was a no-doubter.
The Illinois players rushed the field by the time the ball cleared the fence. They mobbed Schroeder as he ran home and before it was done, his jersey was stripped.
Thanks, Illinois, for a fantastic finish to a great weekend!
Make sure to see all the weekend’s photos at the IBR photo gallery.
On to this weekend
Illinois was at .500 for two days until they suffered the “Midweek Curse”, losing to Bradley 7-6. Currently, they are at 18-19 with a 7-8 Big Ten record. The sweep against Minnesota really helped.
Traditionally, Ohio State has been a dominant baseball team but this year has been a rebuilding year for the Buckeyes. With a 20-21 overall record, they have taken a downturn in the conference season. Currently, they are 3-12 and are on a four game losing streak.
On the mound
A bit of a shakeup in the rotation this weekend.
Riley Gowens gets the weekend off. As noted, Jack Crowder has had some success from the mound so he’s being rewarded with a Friday start. Jack Wenninger will throw from the hill on Saturday.
Sunday? There’s nothing definite yet.
 The Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 20-21 (3-12 Big Ten) |
| Friday 5pm CT Saturday 1pm CT Sunday 12pm CT |
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Random Ramblings
Jacob Schroeder’s big weekend (4 for 9, three homers, 7 rbis) vaults him to second in the Big Ten with a .788 slugging percentage.
The Oskees Awards honor student-athletes who have “excelled both athletically and academically”.
Here are our boys who were such honored this year.
OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD WINNER
Senior Ryan O’Hara, Baseball, 4.00 GPA, accountancy
DIKE EDDLEMAN MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Cam McDonald – Baseball
MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Jake Swartz – Baseball
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Drake Westcott – Baseball
FIGHTING ILLINI MALE SPIRIT AWARD FINALIST
Coltin Quagliano – Baseball
Congratulations to all of you and also to every Illini student-athlete honored on Wednesday night.
Go Illini!!