Illinois hosted the Michigan Wolverines in their first true home series of the season. Despite the best efforts of Mother Nature and the weather, the series was able to occur in Champaign. History was on the line for head coach Dan Hartleb, looking for a program record 519th win as the head coach.

Michigan, despite being undefeated thus far in Big Ten play, brought a lineup that was struggling at the plate, with an on-base plus slugging percentage of just .727. The Illini, on the other hand, brought a .834 OPS to the plate.

On Friday, despite having postponed the game originally, the teams decided to play the game a couple of hours earlier to avoid the wrath of the storm. The game started at 3 p.m., and it was Michigan who got to junior righthander Riley Gowens early and often.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 4-0 lead, as the Illini could not get to any pitches. It got even worse for Illinois in the fourth inning when Michigan added another pair of runs.

The Wolverines continued to pound the zone and drive in runs. The Illini were down 12-2 by the seventh inning stretch, needing a miracle to win. Despite the comeback effort, the Illini could not pull it off, losing 12-9.

The time for game two was also changed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Freshman righthander Julius Sanchez took the mound, as the teams battled through windy conditions.

Sanchez struggled, and despite getting out of a jam in the first, he could not make it out of the second. After giving up three runs, senior righthander Joe Glassey relieved Sanchez after just 1 ⅓ innings of work, as the Illini trailed 3-1.

Sophomore Ryan Moerman got the Illini within a run after smoking a ball to right field. In the next inning, he robbed a deep fly ball to keep the game at 3-2.

Glassey had a great outing in relief, as he retired 10 straight hitters before giving up a two-out walk in the sixth inning. A web gem by Doligale and junior Connor Milton preserved a close game as Illinois looked to do some damage with the momentum.

A scoring opportunity came with the bases loaded for the Illini with just one out in the sixth, but Michigan induced a double play to maintain a 3-2 lead. However, Doligale went yard in the seventh, tying the game at 3-3.

A double by Michigan in the eighth gave them back the lead, and then they followed up in the ninth with a bases-loaded opportunity. They got one on a wild pitch making it 5-3, before a bloop single added another run, making it 6-3. They broke the game wide open on a grand slam with two outs, and Illinois needed a miracle in their half of the ninth.

Illinois took the field in their powder blue jerseys for the third and final game of the series, looking to avoid a sweep. Junior righthander Jack Wenninger would be the man in charge of shutting down a Michigan lineup that raked in the first two games.

Junior designated hitter Drake Westcott hit a home run to the opposite field in the second, giving Illinois a lead. Brody Harding followed up a Comia double with a single, making it a 2-0 game for Illinois in the second inning.

Moerman added to the party with a solo shot in the third inning as the Illini looked to keep pouring it on. They did just that, as senior catcher Jacob Schroeder hit a three-run missile to left-center field, putting Illinois up 6-0.

Harding added another hit with a two-run shot to left field. By the seventh inning, Illinois had a commanding 8-1 lead to go along with a dominant outing from Wenninger. In the bottom of the seventh, Harding recorded his third hit and fourth RBI of the afternoon.

The Illini were able to close the series out with an 11-1 win, avoiding a sweep. The offense erupted for 11 runs, but the storyline was Wenninger’s dominant outing, allowing only one run over eight innings and only allowing six baserunners.

Hartleb spoke highly of Wenninger’s performance.

“He was in command all day,” Hartleb said. “He had good fastball command, throwing 3-4 pitches for a strike. He’s a really good pitcher.”

The Illini record now stands at 12-12, with a 2-4 conference record. They’ll host in-state rival Illinois State on Tuesday.

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