Illini relish Indiana series

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The stakes won't be nearly as high as the last time Illinois and Indiana met on the baseball field.

But when the Illini and Hoosiers renew a steadily intensifying rivalry this weekend, Illinois won't lack an incentive.

"This is a chance to maybe redeem ourselves," coach Itch Jones said Thursday, a day before the teams begin a four-game Big Ten Conference series at Sembower Field.

Last May, Indiana defeated Illinois 6-4 in the title game of the Big Ten playoffs at State College, Pa. As it turned out, the loss denied the Illini not only the tournament crown, but an NCAA tournament appearance. Only automatic qualifier Indiana advanced to the NCAA tourney. Illinois and all other Big Ten teams were bypassed on at-large invitations.

Indiana also handed the Illini their other loss in the double-elimination playoffs.

The Illini enter today's 2 p.m. series opener on a roll, having won 7 of 8 to push their season record above .500 for the first time this season. Illinois, 11-10, is 3-1 in the Big Ten, tied for first place with Ohio State.

Indiana is the winningest Big Ten team at 18-4, but three of those defeats have come in the Hoosiers' last seven games.

Led by center fielder Dusty Rhodes and third baseman Craig Marquie, Illinois has outscored its opponents 57-30 in the last six games. Rhodes, the Big Ten Player of the Week, hit 13 of 22 in that span to raise his average to a team-high .421. Marquie, after going 13 of 21, is up to .394.

UI left fielder Todd McClure (.363) is working on a nine-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.

Jones plans to start Brett Weber (2-1, 2.21 earned run average) in the series opener, and Brian Hecht (2-3, 4.85) in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. In the nightcap, Jones will choose Tom Zidlicky (2-1, 3.21), Travis Rehrer (1-1, 3.92) or Tim Lavery (2-2, 5.34). One of those three will start the series finale on Sunday.

Second baseman Micah Nori leads Indiana in seven offensive categories, and left-hander Brian Partenheimer is 7-0 with a 2.51 ERA.

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