Henry Aleck Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
Henry Aleck Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
Illinois baseball is set to conclude its five-game homestand with a match against Indiana State on March 18 at Illinois Field in Champaign. The Fighting Illini currently hold a 4-1 record at home, having outscored their opponents by a total of 67-38.
The team's recent performance includes splitting a doubleheader against Valparaiso, resulting in a series win. They lost the first game 13-10 but bounced back with a decisive 14-4 victory in the second game.
This upcoming game will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network with commentary from Connor McKnight and Scott Pose. Fans can also tune into WDWS 1400-AM/93.9 FM for coverage provided by Scott Beatty on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network.
Admission to Illinois Field is free throughout the season, and fans are encouraged to consult the gameday guide for parking information and updated field policies.
Indiana State enters this contest with a record of 9-11 after securing a series win over Pacific. Carlos Pena has been leading Indiana State's offense, posting notable statistics including seven doubles and three home runs across fourteen games. On the mound, Max McEwan holds an overall record of 2-1 with an ERA of 3.68 over six appearances.
Historically, Illinois and Indiana State have an even all-time series record at 42-42-2. However, Illinois has dominated recent encounters in Champaign, winning nine out of ten matchups.
The Illini recently completed their non-conference schedule with two wins out of three games against Valparaiso. Offensive highlights included performances from Nick Groves and Vytas Valincius who both batted above .450 during the series.
In terms of individual achievements this season, Vytas Valincius ranks fourth on the team in batting average while leading in several offensive categories including RBIs and stolen bases.
Coach Dan Hartleb leads Illinois into his twentieth season as head coach, holding three Big Ten championships among other accolades during his tenure. Under his leadership, Illinois achieved significant success last year including setting a program record for home runs.
Following this matchup against Indiana State, Illinois will resume Big Ten play with an away series at Northwestern starting March 21.
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