Illinois will be traveling to Rutgers this weekend to round out the 2021 season. Instead of the usual preview, I thought I’d recognize our two senior athletes.
Taylor Jackson
In the last two years, Taylor Jackson filled several key roles for Illinois.
He played a nearly flawless centerfield (just one error in his time at Illinois!). His on-base percentage and speed made him a natural leadoff hitter. Jackson helped kick start the Illinois offense especially in 2021.
Despite this role, Jackson’s biggest moment in 2021 was with the long ball. This came against Indiana on May 18th. His homerun in the top of the 10th inning broke the 2-2 tie and proved to be the game winner.
In 2021, Taylor Jackson led the Illini in runs, walks and stolen bases.
Jackson Raper
Jackson Raper has only been with Illinois for just one year but boy, he packed a lot into that time!
Quiet thirdbaseman Jackson Raper, made his noise with the bat. He batted .314 thanks in part to two 4-hit games. The Jackson Raper homeruns in 2021 kept coming! A lot of those photos you see above are his homeruns. For the year, he totaled 12, leading the team. Not all of them left park too. In one of the more exciting plays this year, Raper managed to hit an inside-the-park on May 21 against Penn State.
In 2021, Jackson Raper led the Illini in doubles, homeruns, and rbis.
Thank you, Taylor and Jackson!
The info for this weekend!
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | |
| Bainton Field | Piscataway, New Jersey |
| Friday, May 28 | 10am CT Saturday, May 29 | 12pm CT Sunday, May 30 | 11am CT |  |
Go Illinois!