Next Game:
|
|
Games #50-53 |
|
|
Record: 29-20 Big Ten 15-12 |
vs Purdue |
at Illinois Field Champaign, IL |
Ok, Illini Fans, this is it. Our magic number is down to two. The Purdue Boilermakers are coming to town and the Illini need all fans to come to the park. Don’t forget that the schedule is a bit different this weekend. It will be a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series.
Purdue has already clinched their Big Ten Tournament spot. It would take a four-game sweep for us to overtake their second place position and thereby gaining a bye in the first round. I honestly don’t know what would happen if we tied them by going 3-1.
[Update: I inquired about this of the one person who I knew would know, Brian DeCaussin of Big Ten Hardball. His reply:
I believe that if the Illini take three of four from Purdue, they would be the second seed by virtue of their head-to-head record against the Boilermakers. That would give them the first-round bye.
So nothing official but that seems to makes sense to me.]
Media Coverage
If you have the Big Ten Network and can’t make to the ballpark, all three games will be broadcast. This should make my buddy Brando happy who’s always asking why he can’t watch Illini (or any Big Ten baseball, for that matter) on BTN.
More Altobelli?
I didn’t even notice last weekend that Dom Altobelli suited up and pinch hit in two games against Ohio State. Dom had been out since April with a torn labrum. His replacement at third base, John Schlichter, has been doing a bang-up job in his stead but it’s good to see him getting his swings in.
Can we get some good weather?
According to Illini’s official website, six of the seven Big Ten series have been affected by the weather what with cancellations or postponements. It would be nice to have a 3-day series of sunny baseball weather to watch the games.
Checking the weather forecast, looks like a chance of rain on Thursday but clear on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully, the rains will hold off on Thursday night.
[Update: Thursday’s game was postponed. I updated the schedule above.]
Comeback Mountain
An amazing 14 of Illinois’ 29 wins this season have been comeback victories. Five of those wins happened in the last at-bat.
See you at the ballpark!!!
And the dirt on Purdue:
| Opponent: | Purdue University |
| Nickname: | Boilermakers |
| Conference: | Big Ten |
| Head Coach: | Doug Schreiber (9th year) |
| Hometown: | West Lafayette, IN |
| Current Record: | 27-22 (18-9 Big Ten) |
| Baseball Program website: | Link |
| Players to watch: | Catcher Dan Black is their long ball guy. He leads Purdue with 12 homers and 51 rbis. Bonus: He’s played for the local Danville Dans. |
| Team Fact: | Purdue’s ERA is a full point less than their opponents (4.59 to 5.67). |