After a disappointing performance last weekend against USC, the Illinois baseball team will look to win its conference home-opening series.
Here are three key questions as the Illini host the Golden Gophers
1. How will the weather factor into this series?
Following a series in which the Illini were able to bask in the warmth that California offered, they return home to a classic Illinois March Spring. With the temperature of Friday night's first pitch in the high 40s and Saturday’s game projected to be similar, it will be interesting to see how this affects the game.
Low wind speeds and cooler temperatures mean that the ball is likely to stay inside the park. This should make for a very chippy and grindy sort of game.
Neither team is likely to put a ton of runs on the board at once, so getting runners on base and sneaking some rolling balls deep into the outfield will be crucial if the Illini want to grind out a successful series.
2. Can the offense build off Tuesday’s hit-fest?
In Tuesday’s game against Western Illinois, the Illini were able to muster a whopping 21 runs. After a USC series where the Illini scored three total runs, the offense will need to use the past game as a confidence booster.
Throughout the season thus far, the team has proven they can be an offensive force, especially in their win against then-No. 6 Coastal Carolina, where they scored 14 runs. With most of the lineup hitting at or around a .300 batting average, Illinois will need to find its offensive game in conference play.
On-base percentage will be a huge stat to keep track of this series, given the weather conditions. This should benefit the Illini, given the number of runs they drove in via base hits during Tuesday’s mashing.
3. Can Illinois pitching stifle a good Minnesota offense?
Similar to Illinois, Minnesota's offense boasts five players hitting over .300, with two others close to it. However, this comes with the interesting caveat that Minnesota has played nearly all of its games indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium.
While those Minnesota offensive numbers are still impressive, it will be interesting to see how they respond outside in the elements. Pair that with an Illini pitching staff that has shown they are a formidable unit this season, and it appears this series will feature somewhat of an unstoppable force facing an immovable object.
Starting pitchers Reagan Hall and Ben Plumley will undoubtedly look to make the positive impact they have all season, but yet again, it will come down to whether the bullpen can hold up.
They looked incredibly solid last weekend against another strong-hitting team and will look to continue that start.
The pieces are there for the Illini to make some noise in the Big Ten this year, and that can all get back on track with a series win against Minnesota.