Baseball's Willie Argo, Volleyball's Michelle Bartsch, runner Melissa Bates, gymanst Melissa Fernandez, soccer player Danielle Kot, tennis player Dennis Nevolo, gymanst Daniel Ribeiro and softball player Danielle Zymkowitz

Four Illini baseball players named Academic All-Big Ten for third time

URBANA — Sophomore second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz was named a third-team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the organization announced Wednesday.

Super Saturday

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bad weather and a listless offense made Illinois' stay at the NCAA tournament one to forget.

The third-seeded Illini were eliminated Saturday, losing to Missouri 5-1 and DePaul 6-0.

Mike Small's Illini men's golf team has started its second round on a positive note at an NCAA regional in New Jersey. At noon, Dan Hartleb's Illinois baseball team takes on Purdue in a game that has Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament ramifications. At 5 p.m., Terri Sullivan's Illini softball team takes on Missouri in an NCAA tournament opener.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Illinois was eliminated from the Big Ten baseball title hunt Friday night, but reliever Lee Zerrusen did everything he could to keep his team in the race.

Zerrusen struck out Purdue’s Dan Black with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the Illini’s 6-3 victory Friday afternoon. Illinois (33-17, 16-7 Big Ten) fell 11/2 games behind league-leading Minnesota, which defeated Penn State on Friday night to end Illinois’ bid.

A closer look at Terri Sullivan's Illini ahead of today's NCAA tournament opener against host Missouri (5 p.m. start):