Two weekends. Six games. Six wins. By now, the nation has got start to take notice of the Illinois baseball team.
Illinois (6-0) took three wins from the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-4) in an incredibly exciting series this past weekend. Two of the games were decided with last inning heroics showing that this Illini baseball team can play under pressure.
At 6-0, the Illini is off to one of its best starts in team history. Only eight times has Illinois baseball gone 6-0 to start the season. Courtesy of FightingIllini.com:
6-0 or Better Starts in Illinois History (by year)
2019 – 6-0
2015 – 6-0 (7-0-1)
1986 – 7-0 (9-0-1)
1935 – 8-0
1930 – 6-0
1915 – 12-0
1910 – 11-0 (finished 11-0)
1909 – 7-0
The last time they did this well? I remember it well. It was the 2015 team that made the Super Regionals.
Illinois 7 FAU 6
Both teams battled but FAU was up 6-3 by the top of the ninth inning. It was Jeff Korte’s three-run home run that tied the game in the top of the ninth. With the game then tied, Illinois hit safely twice. Florida Atlantic decided to not to face Michael Massey, intentionally walking him. They paid the price when Zac Taylor coaxed a game-winning walk.
Korte, a Florida native, was truly the star of the game. He hit two home runs and drove home five runs.
FightingIllini.com recap | Box Score
Illinois 5 FAU 3
Thanks to some nifty pitching by starter Andy Fisher, the Illini were able to secure the win on Saturday. Fisher only allowed one run on two hits in six innings while Garrett Acton wrapped up the game with save number three.
Michael Massey and Michael Michalak contributed three hits to the effort.
FightingIllini.com recap | Box Score
Illinois 11 FAU 10
It was another back and forth game on Sunday. Things looked quite in hand when the Illini scored five runs in the top of the first inning but the game was just getting started. Before the game’s end, the Owls would tie the game two times. It took a Jack Yalowitz 10th inning rbi single to finish off the Owls.
A couple freshmen had big roles in this game. Branden Comia rapped four hits while Cam McDonald drove home four runs on two hits. Zac Taylor and Kellen Sarver both hit safely three times.
Six Illini hurlers came to the mound on Sunday. Ryan Schmitt got the win pitching 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball while Quinten Sefcik earned the save with a perfect 10th inning.
FightingIllini.com recap | Box Score
Random Ramblings
I just happened to notice that Michael Michalak was inserted into the lineup in two of the games this weekend and responded. He went 5 for 7 with a run scored and an rbi. Michalak is versatile and playing multiple positions so if possible, Coach Hartleb might do what he can to get his bat in the lineup.
It seems that Coach Hartleb has given Garret Acton the closer job… for the time being.
Garrett has appeared in three of the four save situations Illini have faced. Everything is temporary of course but Garrett is making the most of the opportunity. He is three-for-three in saves with only one hit allowed in three innings.
Next Up
Next weekend, Illinois travels to Conway, South Carolina for a four-game series against three teams. Worth mentioning is that one of those teams is the ranked Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina.
Illinois takes on the Chants at 4:30pm CT on Friday.
Keep up the good work, Illini! I am looking forward to seeing you at Illinois Field!