Illinois test their luck against Penn State this weekend

Catcher Jason Goldstein takes a team leading .377 batting average into this weekend This weekend, the Illini baseball team travel to State College to reverse their recent downward trend against Penn State (17-16, 5-3 Big Ten).  After winning ten of eleven games, Illinois (18-14, 6-3) has now lost three straight…

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Illini get spanked by Michigan 17-9

Will Krug’s 3 for 5 performance wasn’t enough to overcome Michigan’s 17 runs Before today, Illinois hurlers hadn’t given up a run for 25 innings.  As I approached Illinois Field, I knew that win or lose, that streak wasn’t going to last.  The winds were blowing straight out to centerfield. …

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Drasen Johnson shuts down Michigan 1-0

Drasen Johnson makes do with one run For the first time since 1969, Illinois Baseball has won two consecutive 1-0 shutouts.  Last night’s win against Michigan was behind the performance of Drasen Johnson who has gotten used to little support from the Illini offense.  Fortunately, one run was all he…

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Illinois Baseball to host Wolverines this weekend

Shortstop Adam Walton brings a 10-game hitting streak into this weekend After two Big Ten weekends, Illinois Baseball is off to a 5-1 conference start (17-11 overall).  That by the way, is the best Big Ten start under Coach Dan Hartleb’s reign.  Illinois hopes to continue their good luck against…

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Illini Drasen Johnson gets some support against Wildcats… and then some

Drasen Johnson finally got the offensive support he deserved today not that he needed it all.   In Evanston, Johnson (3-4, 2.74) struck out ten batters in seven shutout innings against Northwestern while his Illini teammates exploded for 13 runs.  The Northwestern defense didn’t help their cause with five fielding miscues.  …

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Illinois close out weekend with Purdue victorious, 8-3

Casey Fletcher gets congrats from the batboy in the 3rd inning while Ronnie Muck watches on On Sunday, it was a warm afternoon and the Illinois bats were pretty hot too.  With the help of thirteen hits, the home team scored eight runs to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers 8-3 in…

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Castellanos helps Illinois tie series against Boilermakers

In Saturday’s game against Purdue (5-17, 1-1 Big Ten), the Illinois squad (13-11, 1-1 Big Ten) combined timely hitting with another fine performance by sophomore righty Ryan Castellanos to tie the weekend series 1-1.  Castellanos pitched his first complete game as an Illinois pitcher and improved to 3-1 for the…

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Illinois Baseball sweep twin bill from Xavier

Castellanos and Kravetz get the job done Thanks to a pair of solid pitching performances by Ryan Castellanos and John Kravetz as well as some offensive support from the hitting crew, the Illinois baseball team swept the Xavier Musketeers in today’s doubleheader.  Both Castellanos and Kravetz improved their records to…

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Illinois Baseball: 2014 season preview

The Fighting Illini Baseball program released their official 2014 season preview on Friday.  Complete and thorough, it answers a few questions.   In a nutshell, the young 2014 team has lost its entire outfield and the left side of the infield from last year but the pitching staff is relatively…

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More photos from Saturday’s Hot Stove Banquet

Just a few more fun photos I took at last night’s Fighting Illini Baseball Hot Stove Banquet.  Photo op before the event.  From left to right, Dugout Club President Jon Swenson, Chris Robinson and Coach Dan Hartleb.   Former Illini Chris Robinson and Kyle Hudson greet each other at the…

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