Center fielder Justin Parr will have his pursuit of the school record for hitting streak delayed, at least until this weekend. Freshman pitcher J.D. Neilsen will have to wait to make his first career collegiate start, and Illinois will have to wait until next season to avenge an 8-4 loss suffered to Eastern on April 9.

Tuesday’s Illini baseball game against the Panthers was canceled due to inclement weather. The game was scheduled to be played at Peterson Park in Mattoon, Ill., but will not be rescheduled.

This marks the third time the Illini have canceled a game due of weather conditions this season, matching last season’s total of canceled games.

Even though Illinois had a combined six cancellations and postponements in 2011, the weather has been particularly unkind to this year’s team, which has played in 30- or 40-degree temperatures in most of its games, including a game against Tennessee Tech in February in which Illinois dealt with snow delays.

Thus is the unpredictable nature of baseball in the Midwest.

Jamal can be reached at [email protected] and @jamalcollier.