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3 key questions as the Illinois baseball team battles the USC Trojans

The Illinois baseball program is ready to take on a tough USC team in a huge tone-setting three-game series.
ByOwen Christopher|
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Jun 1, 2024; Lexington, KY, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Dan Hartleb shakes hands with the umpires before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kentucky Proud Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Jun 1, 2024; Lexington, KY, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Dan Hartleb shakes hands with the umpires before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kentucky Proud Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The Illinois baseball team will open up their conference slate this weekend against the USC Trojans.

With the Illini riding a five-game-winning streak and USC opening the year undefeated at 12-0, this series will be a great, early test that could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Here are three key questions as the Illini battle the Trojans

1. Will A.J. Putty’s strong start continue in conference play?

One of the biggest surprises for the Illini thus far has been the incredible success of true freshman A.J. Putty. Hitting at a whopping .409 with 18 hits and four home runs, it has become evident that he is a major driver in this offense. 

Given his youth, batting against a team with multiple pitchers under 2.00 ERA will be a tall order. However, Putty seems to embrace tough competition, given his success against then-No. 6 Coastal Carolina. 

While Illinois has other strong offensive pieces sprinkled up and down the lineup, it has become increasingly apparent that Putty is a valuable spark plug. He will have to be at his best if the Illini want to take down their second-ranked opponent of the year. 

2. How will Reagan Hall fare against an incredibly strong-hitting team?

Starting pitcher Reagan Hall has had a solid start to the year. Boasting a 2.55 ERA while only allowing 12 hits in 17.2 innings, Hall has shown great improvement from last season. 

However, this three-game sample size is incredibly small. Hall will likely be the Saturday starter in a game that could either clinch or lose the series for the Illini. 

With strong USC hitters littered throughout the lineup, Hall will need his best stuff if the Illini want to stay competitive. Some of the biggest issues with last year's roster were the pitching staff's inability to keep Illinois in games.

While the team was able to score enough runs to win, the pitching staff usually gave up enough for them to lose. If Hall and other starters can build off this strong start, the Illini pitching staff could be a notable force.

3. Who will be the main pitchers out of the bullpen in Big Ten play?

With the first Big Ten series at hand, it will be interesting to see who gets the call out of the bullpen first. Players like Kyle Remington, Reed Gannon, Mitch Dye, and Sam Mommer are likely candidates, but with no defined third starter for Illinois, questions remain as to who will be saved for the final game. 

The first pitchers out of the bullpen will be an early indication as to who the coaching staff truly trusts. As previously mentioned, the pitching has been a concern in recent years, and the bullpen has added to those issues. 

Given the quality team that is USC, any late lead for the Illini will have to be preserved by some of the team's best arm talent. If they leave the door open for the Trojans, they will take the opportunity to break through it. 

There is a lot to be excited about with this Illinois roster, and the series against USC is only the start of what should be an exciting Big Ten season. 

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