Next Game:
|
|
Game #31 |
Tues April 15 6:30pm |
|
Record: 18-12 Big 10 6-6 |
vs Eastern Illinois University |
at Grimes Field, Mattoon, IL |
Tuesday, the Illini limp away from getting swept by the Michigan Wolverines and try to save face when they play the Eastern Illinois University Panthers from the Ohio Valley Conference.
The most famous athlete right now, to come out of EIU is Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo. However, the Panthers do have a couple baseball alum to make the bigs. Most notably, Kevin Seitzer, Tim Bogar and Marty Pattin have made the most of their major league careers.
But that was then and this is now and the Illini need a win to get them back on track.
Eastern’s details:
| Opponent: | Eastern Illinois University |
| Nickname: | Panthers |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Head Coach: | Jim Schmitz (14th year) |
| Hometown: | Mattoon, IL |
| Current Record: | 16-15 |
| Baseball Program website: | Link |
| Players to watch: | Brett Nommensen leads the team in hitting (.351) and slugging (.532). Richie Derbak paces the Panthers in rbis wit 24. Reliever Tyler Brandon has been lights out. He has a phenomenal 0.84 ERA. The scary thing is that he’s done this in 32 IP. |
| Team Fact: | EIU has outhit (.283 to .243) and outpitched (4.25 to 4.92)their opponents. |
One last thing: Since Ryan Hastings and Kyle Hudson (and as reader John pointed out, Blake Fairchild) are from Mattoon, there will be a pre-game meet-and-greet for those that want to see the Mattoon alums.
Go Illini!!