Entering May last season, the Illini stood at 26-15. This season, as the calendar again turns past April, they sit at 26-16.
The vibes this year, however, are much different. Last year, the team had a real chance at a wide-open Big Ten. Illinois seized that chance, winning seven of its final nine conference games for its first Big Ten title since 2015.
Now, the Illini find themselves in sixth place. They’re behind all four new Big Ten teams in the standings, as well as first place Iowa (20-4). Illinois is technically still in the running, but the odds of back-to-back conference titles are astronomically low.
Still, the schedule goes on. The Illini travel to New Jersey this weekend to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (21-24, 9-12).
Light-hitting Knights
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After facing four of the nine highest-scoring offenses in the conference over the past month, the pitching staff is in for a respite.
Rutgers has scored 279 runs in its 45 games this season. Its 6.2 runs/game is nearly two runs lower than Illinois’ 8.19 mark.
The Scarlet Knights also lack power bats. They’ve slugged a conference-worst 26 homers this season — 18 fewer than second-to-last Michigan State’s (23-19, 9-12) 44.
Junior right fielder Trevor Cohen and sophomore first baseman Ty Doucette are Rutgers’ only true threatening bats.
Illini starting pitching — especially sophomore southpaw Regan Hall and junior right-hander Tyler Schmitt — have been settling in as of late. The group should continue to roll this weekend in Piscataway.
Offensive revival?
The Scarlet Knights’ pitching staff is comparable to the Illini’s group. Illinois’ 1.61 WHIP is just marginally better than Rutgers’ 1.63.
This should bode well for Illinois hitters, who have struggled to put runs on the board over the past few weeks.
Illinois has topped six runs just once in its past eight games. Pitching has kept most of those eight games competitive (with one major exception), but the offense has previously proven that it can consistently score.
The team notched just six hits earlier this week against Bradley (9-30), a sure sign that the offense is slumping.
Sophomore outfielder Collin Jennings has been bucking this trend. The Orland Park native homered against both Purdue (26-18, 7-14) and Bradley and drove in all five runs Tuesday.
The lineup looks to start clicking again against Rutgers. A weather-adjusted Friday doubleheader kicks off at noon, while the series finale begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.
@BrendanGallian
