Series Thread: Illinois vs FAU - Feb 3rd - 5th, 2017




What:      Illinois (2-5) at Florida Atlantic (4-3-1)

When:     Fri, Mar 3rd at 6:30 PM
                Sat, Mar 4th at 4:00 PM
                Sun, Mar 5th at 12:00 PM


Where:    FAU Baseball Stadium

Stream:   CUSA.tv *FEE

Stats:       Here


Series:

Illinois took the lone meeting 12-10 way back in 1989.


Projected Starting Pitchers

Sat:       ILL - RHP  Luke Shilling (0-0, 5.00 ERA)
             FAU - RHP Alex House (1-1, 4.91 ERA)

Sat:       ILL - RHP  Ty Weber (0-0, 5.19 ERA)
             FAU - LHP Jake Miednik (2-0, 1.29 ERA)

Sun:      ILL - RHP Ryan Thompson (0-0, 8.31 ERA)
             FAU - LHP Nick Swan (0-0, 9.00 ERA)


Notes

Owls

After facing Indiana in week two, Florida Atlantic will play their second Big Ten Conference opponent of the season this weekend in that of Illinois. Checking in at 4-3-1 and winning just one out of the last five games, they will look to right the ship.

The Owls (4-3-1) split against Indiana this past weekend. They won the Saturday night game, sandwiched around an Indiana win and a Sunday tie. Since, they lost close midweek encounters to FGCU (7-5) and Miami (5-2) and look to rebound against the Fighting Illini, who are 2-5 to start the year.

In the last two games, Owls' second baseman Stephen Kerr has reached base six times, including three hits. He is hitting .414, behind only teammate Tyler Frank at .525. Kevin Abrahm (.375), Esteban Puerta (.343) and Gary Mattis (.313) are all above .300 as well. Kerr's nine RBI trails Puerta's 13 and Frank's 12, and Frank leads FAU with 12 runs scored.

Owl pitchers Alex House (7), Drew Peden (5), and Jake Miednik (5) currently combine for 17 strikeouts while looking.


Illini

Illinois (2-5) is looking to turn around after two wins over the first two weeks of the season. The team is 2-0 on Fridays but has yet to win a game on a Saturday or Sunday. The Illini have six hitters over .300 on the year and are batting .277 as a team, but the pitching staff owns a 6.82 ERA through seven games. Walks have been a majority of the issue for the arms, as opponents have drawn 6.97 walks per game.

Luke Shilling will start on Friday for the third straight week. Illinois has switched its rotation this weekend, going with freshman Ty Weber on Saturday and freshman Ryan Thompson is set for his first college start Sunday.

55 of Illinois' 71 hits have been by freshmen or sophomores (77.5%). Freshmen have 19 hits, all by Massey and Troike, and the sophomore class has 36 hits. Sophomore outfielder Jack Yalowitz leads the Illini with 11 hits and a .486 on-base percentage.

Illinois is usually pretty good. I don't follow UI sports but the baseball team makes it on the news occasionally. Thats all I have to say about that.

I know the UI team is really diggin' being down in South Florida right now. Winter has returned up here after taking some time off in Feb.

The Illini drop solo efforts in each of their first three at bats to lead 3-0.

However, the Owls answer with a seven spot in the bottom of the third that starts with an RBI single from Sean Labsan and is completed by a three run homers from both Austin Langham and Tyler Frank.

Florida Atlantic batted around in the frame, and has has already earned six walks for the night.

Top 4th

ILL 3  FAU 7

Florida Atlantic's lead doesn't last long as Illinois returns favor to rock House for five more runs and the lead.

The wind is playing havoc on balls hit to the outfield, and this game now has four homers and a pair of bombs off the wall.

House finishes his night under the lights with 3.2IP, 7H, 8R, 6ER, 3BB, 3K.

Bot 4th

ILL 8  FAU 7

The Owls leave three runners on base in the bottom of the sixth, with no change in the score.

Top 7th

ILL 8 FAU 7

Illinois swats another homer to increase their margin. That makes five in total between the teams for the contest.

Bot 7th

ILL 9  FAU 7

Stat to note:

Tyler Frank entered tonight with 21 hits, and tied for number one in the nation. He's 3-for-3 so far, and that should put him in the driver seat no matter the outcome of the game.

Florida Atlantic strands two more in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a sliding Illini catch in the outfield.

Top 8th

ILL 9  FAU 7

BOOM!

Florida Atlantic registers two more homers to take the lead in the bottom half of the eighth inning.

Brad Mathiowetz hits the first, a solo shot, and David Miranda nails the second which is good for 3RBI!

Ragsdale comes on for the save.

Top 9th

ILL 9  FAU 11

The wind is favorable for the Owls, as they take the opener over Illinois!

#FAU takes G1 vs #Illini 11-10 in HR derby! Owls send 4 over wall - Miranda, Frank & Langham 3RBI, Mathiowetz solo. G2 Sat @ 4p. #GoOwls! 👌 pic.twitter.com/aKpjiDVkPF

— FAU Owl's Nest (@TheOwlsNest_ITB) March 4, 2017

UPDATED SCHEDULE: 2017 FAU Baseball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest