Saying it’s a close race going into the last weekend of the season is probably an understatement. Illinois will be facing one of its toughest challenge on the road as they vie for the Big Ten championship and a #1 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.
Illinois (30-17, 15-6 Big Ten) will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana to close out the regular season against Purdue (33-18, 13-8 Big Ten). The first game begins on Thursday at 7pm.
First, a look back at last weekend’s series against the Iowa Hawkeyes
Friday: Illinois 10 Iowa 5
A typical Illinois win brought Jack Crowder his fifth win of the 2024 season. By my count, it was the 19th time the Illini had scored in double digits this season.
This time they had scored ten runs on three homers by Drake Westcott, Brody Harding and Coltin Quagliano. Less reported on are the two-run doubles by Ryan Moerman and Camden Janik early on which got the team going.
I took a few extra pre-game photos since I knew this will be the last weekend I was going to photograph the guys.
Saturday: Iowa 10 Illinois 4
Iowa got their win back on Saturday in practically the same fashion… early.
Illinois did battle in the later innings for a few runs. One bright spot was Vytas Valinicius’ homerun in the sixth. That broke the all-time team single season record for homeruns with 92.
Not content to stay there, Connor Milton made it 93 with a solo blast in the eighth.
Sunday: Illinois 6 Iowa 3
Illinois won Sunday’s game on good pitching and some timely hitting. Payton Hutchings, Jake Rons, Ben Plumley and Joe Glassey combined to keep Iowa to six hits and three runs.
In the space of four batters, Illinois hit three homeruns in the third inning giving them the lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Vytas Valincius hit his second big fly in as many days. Two batters later, Jacob Schroeder and Brody Harding went back-to-back. Instant big lead.
Rons, Plumley and Glassey gave up only one hit and no runs in 4 2/3 innings to close down the Hawkeyes.
See all my photos from the 2024 season in the IBR photo gallery.
Bring on the Boilermakers!
Illinois goes into the last weekend in first place by one game. The top five teams in the Big Ten are separated by only two games. Needless to say, every game counts now!
What are the implications? After Friday’s win, Illinois clinched a Big Ten Baseball Tournament bid so that’s out of the way. I’m sure the team has its eye on winning it all and taking a 2024 Big Ten championship. Aside from bragging rights, it means they will play the #8 seed team. More importantly, their stock will go up in terms of the NCAA regionals which I’m sure are paying attention to this team.
But as Coach Hartleb says, they’re just taking it one game at a time.
Remember, this ‘weekend’s’ series in West Lafayette begins on Thursday. This is due to the Big Ten Tournament which starts next Tuesday. All games will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Here’s the Fighting Illini weekend preview.
Purdue Boilermakers
W-33 L-19 (13-8 Big Ten)
Thursday 7pm CT
BTN Listen Live Stats
Friday 7pm CT
BTN Listen Live Stats
Saturday 2pm CT
BTN Listen Live Stats
Boilermaker Breakdown: Okay, here’s the real test. Up until last weekend, Purdue has been in second place right behind Illinois. Over the weekend, the Boilermakers lost two straight to Michigan and that dropped them to a three-way tie for third.
Make no mistake. Purdue is a very good team. When it comes down to it, they have scored more runs than any other Big Ten team in 2024.
The good news is this: in conference play, Illinois outshines them all in almost all offensive categories. Runs (181), homeruns (39), batting average (.324), you name it. The Illini is coming through when it matters.
On the mound
Like last weekend, Jack Crowder is slated for the first game and the coaches are waiting to decide for the other two.
| Thursday | Jack Crowder | 5-1, 5.27 ERA |
| Friday | TBD | |
| Saturday | TBD |
I will say that this approach worked. We have won our last two Sunday outings with a team effort from our pitching staff.
Random Ramblings
For those who will be following (or maybe even attending) the 2024 Big Ten Baseball Tournament next week, here is the place to go for information. If you’re looking for the complete tournament bracket, here is a link to it. I’m assuming the teams will be populated once this weekend’s games are finished.
With his homerun on Sunday, Brody Harding became the fifth Illinois player with double digits in homers this year. He joins Big Ten leader Ryan Moerman along with Drake Westcott, Jacob Schroeder and Vytas Valincius.
Yet, it is Coltin Quagliano who leads the team in rbis with 49. He can just smell run opportunities.
Let’s go Illinois!