UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team heads to Illinois for a three-game set against Illinois. Penn State will finish its season on the road with two road series.
Series Information
All-Time Series Record: Illinois 36-30
Radio on LionVision with Brian Tripp
Stream on BTN+ ($) Friday & Sunday, BTN on Saturday
Probable Starters
Game 1
Penn State – RHP Bailey Dees
Illinois – RHP Andrew Hoffmann
Game 2
Penn State – RHP Conor Larkin
Illinois– LHP Nate Lavender
Game 3
Penn State – RHP Kyle Virbitsky
Illinois – RHP Riley Gowens
Last Time vs. Illinois
The Nittany Lions and Fighting Illini last met three times in 2019. Penn State fell in all three games in the last matchup of the two squads. Illinois won 2-1, 7-6 & 4-3 in that three-game set.
Diamond Lions on the Bump
Bailey Dees will start on Friday against the Fighting Illini. In his previous start against Rutgers. Dees went six innings, scattering five hits while striking out five. Dees is 4-3 on the season with a 5.34 ERA. He has struck out 49 in his 59.0 innings of work.
Conor Larkin starts for Penn State in game two. Larkin allowed seveb hits in his 6.2 innings against Rutgers on May 15. Larkin struck out four as Penn State won his start 4-3. Larkin enters the game with a 3-6 record. He is second on the team with 64 strikeouts.
Kyle Virbitsky will start the series finale on Sunday. Against Rutgers on May 16, Virbitsky went 6.1 innings. Virbitsky allowed just two earn runs and induced four double plays. Virbitsky is tenth in the conference in strikeouts (68) and seventh in innings pitched (63.2).
Mason Mellott made his 66th career appearance, tied for eighth all-time in Penn State history in Monday's win over Rutgers. His 13 saves are in sole possession of fourth all-time.
Penn State Hitters
Justin Williams leads the Nittany Lions with a .321 average, including hitting .467 last weekend in Penn State's series win over Rutgers. He also leads the team in hits with 44 and is second on the team with five home runs.
Johnny Piacentino is batting .375 with eight doubles and eight RBI in his last 10 games. Piacentino is second in the conference in doubles with 13. Penn State as a team is fifth in the NCAA in doubles per game with 2.35 per game.
Gavin Homer is second on the team with a .298 average and a .420 OBP. Homer is fourth in the Big Ten with 14 HBP and is seventh in the league with nine stole bases.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions will travel to Purdue for a pod weekend series for the final series of the season.