It’s time for week two!
Illinois travels to Conway, South Carolina where they will take part in the Coastal Carolina Tournament. In addition to the host, the Illini will also face Ball State and Cincinnati.
Illinois is coming off a four-game weekend which they split. There were highlights and it’s fair to say that both losses were close. A total of four runs separated the Illini from victory in those two games.
Tourney preview
One ranked team… barely. Two of Illinois’ opponents this weekend have already suffered defeats at the hands of fellow Big Ten teams. With a combined record of 6-5 in the admittedly early season, we can at least say it’s still anyone’s ballgame at this point.
The tournament will take place at Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway, SC. Here is the Fighting Illini preview for the tourney.
Illinois starts off with the historically tough Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina. While Indiana took them down last weekend, keep in mind the Chants also exploded for 26 runs in their opening game.
We’ll see which Coastal Carolina team will show up Friday afternoon. One good omen… the Illini have won four of their last six games against the Chants.
#20 Iowa defeated Ball State last weekend but the Cardinals were able to win the rest of their schedule at the Swig & Swine College Classic (now THAT’S a clever name for a tourney!).
Ball State hasn’t been hit hard yet. Maybe it’s time.
The last time Illinois faced Cincinnati was the fateful 2015 season. The Bearcats won that year but Illini fans know how that season ended for us.
The Bearcats were clobbered by Jacksonville (FL) in a two game set giving up nineteen runs. They rebounded in a midweek game win against Northern Kentucky scoring in double digits.
On the mound
Here’s who Illinois has scheduled to be on the mound this weekend.
| Friday game 1 | Jack Crowder | 0-0, 1.50 ERA |
| Friday game 2 | Sam Reed | 0-0, 2.25 ERA |
| Saturday | Regan Hall | 1-0, 1.50 ERA |
This weekend, Sam Reed gets a chance to show his stuff as a starter. Combined, the three starters gave up just three runs in sixteen innings last weekend.
Random Ramblings
Illinois came away with an even-steven 2-2 record at last weekend’s Wake Forest Tournament. I’m impressed by the contributions of some of the new personnel. Let’s start with Cameron Chee-Aloy who already has three homers on the year. Chee-Aloy had an impact on each of the games and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it!
A few more contributed to the cause. Vytas Valincius went 3 for 11 including a homerun which assisted in the win in first game against Akron. Coltin Quagliano and Cal Hejza both submitted four hits and knocked in three runs over the weekend.
New guy Regan Hall put in a fantastic effort in his Sunday start to give Illinois the win against Fordham. Striking out nine, he gave up just two hits in six innings.
Pitching against the #1 team in the nation, Sam Reed kept it close by allowing just one run in four innings of bullpen relief.
What Senior Logan Tabeling was asked to do was practically impossible. He was making his first career start against the #1 team in the nation. While the result wasn’t exactly what the team wanted, Logan accomplished quite a bit. He struck out the first five batters and a total of nine over four innings. He even struck out four batters in the second!
A loss is a loss but losing 5-2 against #1 doesn’t look too horrible on the team resume.
Chee-Aloy and Regan, by the way, were just awarded with Prairie Farms Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors.
Looking ahead
Finally, if you’re in the area, the home opener is almost upon us! On Tuesday, February 27, Illinois will host Eastern Illinois.
I am so looking forward to seeing all of our boys back in town!
Go Illini!