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Illinois Baseball Opens New Season Today

The Illinois baseball team begins its 2021 season Friday with a trip to Greenville, S.C.with a four-game series Friday-Sunday against Ohio State at Fluor Field. Saturday's action will be a doubleheader, with the first contest being a 7-inning game.

 

Illinois is returning to the field for the first time since March 8, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season early. The Illini were 8-5 through their first 13 games last season.

 

This year, the team will have 24 players back from last season's roster and welcome 11 newcomers. Much of the offensive production is back with 86% of last season's hits and 83% of the team's runs scored returning.

 

Sophomore righty Andrew Hoffmann will get the ball for the Illini on Friday. Hoffmann transferred from John A. Logan Community College following last season. He went 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts in 2020. Illinois will send junior Riley Gowens to the mound in game one on Saturday and sophomore Ty Rybarczyk in game two. The weekend finale will have freshman left-hander Cole Kirschsieper on the hill.

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