Michigan
Illinois
Michigan Set to Take on Illinois in B1G Tourney Opener on Thursday
5/23/2022 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to inclement weather in the Omaha area, Michigan's Big Ten Conference Tournament game against Illinois, originally scheduled for Wednesday (May 25) at 9 p.m. CDT, has been moved to Thursday (May 26). First pitch is slated for 40 minutes after the conclusion of the third game of the day. » Big Ten Tournament Central
THIS WEEK
Wed-Sun., May 25-29 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Omaha, Neb.)
Tournament Central
Thursday, May 26Â -- vs. Illinois (Omaha, Neb.), 40 minutes after the conclusion of Game 3Â (note new day and time)
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Video
Friday, May 27 -- vs. Maryland or Indiana (Omaha, Neb.), Time TBD
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Video
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-seeded University of Michigan baseball team will kick off the 2022 Big Ten Conference Tournament this Thursday (May 26) with an opening-round contest against No. 4-seeded Illinois.
• Michigan's game against Illinois was originally scheduled for Wednesday (May 25) at 9 p.m. CDT, but was rescheduled to Thursday (May 26) due to forecasted weather in the area on Wednesday. Game times have been shifted due to weather, and the game is scheduled to begin roughly 40 minutes after the conclusion of Game 3. With the double-elimination format still in effect, Michigan's opponent and game time for Friday (May 27) is still to be determined.
• While the matchup brings back memories of Michigan's dramatic 5-4 win over the Illini in an elimination game in the 2019 tournament, the teams have not played against each other this season.
• Michigan (28-25) wrapped up the home portion of its season with a 14-9 record at Ray Fisher Stadium and enters the tournament on a high note, having taken two of three games from second place Rutgers over the weekend in addition to a convincing non-conference win against Michigan State on Tuesday (May 17) to complete a four-game series sweep of the Spartans.
• Wednesday's games (May 25) will mark the first Big Ten Tournament games since Michigan's magical 2019 season, as the past two years' events were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Michigan's offense continues to be led by Clark Elliott, who sports a .346 batting average, a .467 on-base-percentage, 43 walks and 15 stolen bases. Joe Stewart follows at .343 overall with a 22-for-23 mark in steal attempts. The duo is as formidable as they come atop a lineup, with Elliott hitting 15 doubles, two triples, and 12 home runs from the leadoff position and Stewart following with 11 doubles, two triples and 11 homers.
• Matt Frey (.302 avg., 10 HR), Tito Flores (.295 avg., 18 2B, 10 HR), Ted Burton (.251 avg., 14 2B, 9 HR), and Jimmy Obertop (.278 avg., 9 HR) follow close behind in the power category.
• Weekend starters Connor O'Halloran (4-4), Chase Allen (6-1), and Cameron Weston (4-3) all pitched on Friday night against Rutgers (May 20), and Weston closed out both Friday and Saturday night's games for his first career saves. Six different Wolverines have collected at least one save this season. The team's bullpen has been bolstered by the return of Willie Weiss, who has limited opposing batters to a .229 batting average, along with John Torroella, Keaton Carattini, and Jack White, who are all working their way back from arm injuries.
Scouting Illinois
• This season, the Illini went 17-7 in Big Ten Conference play and finished in a three-way tie with Rutgers and Iowa for second place in the conference standings. Illinois currently owns a 31-20 overall record heading into the conference tournament and is coming off a weekend sweep at Penn State.
• The offense is led by Cam McDonald's .369 batting average and 58 runs batted in. Justin Janas follows at .355 with a .505 on-base-percentage on the strength of 23 hit by pitches. Danny Doligale leads the team on the base paths with an 18-for-19 mark and Jacob Campbell has connected for a team-best eight home runs.
• Illinois' best starting pitcher has been Cole Kirschsieper with a 7-2 record, a 3.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts against just 27 walks in over 81 innings of work.
