As an Illini fan, I’m celebrating. Someone asked me, “Did you hear about the Illini?” Not thinking, I said, “Yeah! Whew! 17-5! What a win!” Then I realized they were talking about the basketball team’s loss in the March Madness tourney. Sorry, my faux pas. I’m on baseball mode year round.
Anyway, the Illini weren’t short on offense the past two games, scoring 37 runs. They beat Yale 17-5 and Dartmouth 20-10. Granted, the Ivy League is not what it used to be when Lou Gehrig donned a Columbia uni. The composite record for the conference is 26-45.
Still, this has got to be a confidence-builder for the Illini who went into the week with just two wins. Again, it was some new guys as well as some old favorites who are getting the job done. I am starting to look for Brandon Wikoff’s name in the box score. He seems to get in the game somehow. On Sunday’s game against Yale, he was 3 for 6 with 3 runs. Craig Lutes, freshman outfielder came into that game and spelled Kyle Hudson in center and responded by hitting a three run homer, his first of the season.
Freshman Outfielder Craig Lutes
Hartleb must have liked what he saw since there was Craig in Monday’s game against Dartmouth in the DH role. Lutes didn’t disappoint. He went 2 for 4 with his second homerun and 3 rbis
Illinois is off today (their only off-day for the week) but good news… they get to play Dartmouth two more times this week.
Go Illini!!