http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball Latest Illini SportsFacts stories for the News-Gazette en-us Copyright 2008, The News-Gazette, Inc. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/rss Sun, 11 May 2008 08:39:00 PST COLUMBUS, Ohio – Illinois started Saturday on a positive note, finishing off a 9-4 victory against Ohio State in a game suspended a night earlier. It went downhill from there, but the Illini's Big Ten tournament seeding hopes didn't take a hit after dropping both games of a regularly scheduled doubleheader, 9-2 and 14-8. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/11/illini_drop_doubleheader_at_ohio_state/ Sun, 11 May 2008 14:00:00 CST ATLANTA – Illinois women's tennis coach Michelle Dasso knows her team has improved this season. It just wasn't enough to defeat Tennessee, the nation's 25th-ranked squad, in a first-round NCAA tournament match Friday. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/10/improved_illini_fall_to_volunteers/ Sat, 10 May 2008 14:00:00 CST EVANSTON – The Illinois softball season came to an end this morning after the Illini dropped a 9-1 decision to Iowa in the Big Ten tournament at Northwestern. The Illini (30-32) grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning when freshman Danielle Zymkowitz scored after Iowa center fielder Quinn Morelock misplayed the first of two Angelena Mexicano doubles. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/09/iowa_ends_illinis_season/ Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:00 CST A weekly review and preview of Illini sports: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/08/illini_insider/ Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:00 CST PARK RIDGE – Aja Evans, who broke a 12-year-old Illinois record in the shot put, was named Big Ten Women's Co-Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday. The Illini sophomore threw the shot 55 feet, 8 1/4 inches April 30 during the Illinois Twilight Meet at the Illinois Track and Soccer Stadium. The previous school record of 53-1 was set by Collinus Newsome in 1996. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/07/evans_shares_league_honor/ Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Aaron Johnson's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth lifted Illinois to a 10-9 victory against Northwestern on Monday night in Big Ten baseball. The win allowed Illinois (28-18, 14-10 Big Ten) to remain in third place in the Big Ten. It was the Illini's 12th comeback win of the season. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/06/late_homer_lifts_illinois/ Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – John Schlichter claims he's not much of a talker. With a bat in his hands, however, the Illinois third baseman is capable of being the talk of any game. The nightcap of Sunday's Big Ten doubleheader against Northwestern was just such a game. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/05/schlichters_bat_giving_illini_lift/ Mon, 05 May 2008 14:00:00 CST With a few hours remaining before the start of baseball practice, Ryan Hastings was on the phone and on a mission. These days, the University of Illinois first baseman needs to make almost every minute count and, in this case, that meant trying to cross one more item off the to-do list for his upcoming marriage. "I was trying to figure out the limo service that we're going to use," the Mattoon native said. "I was calling a couple different companies." http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/04/hastings_has_plenty_on_his_plate/ Sun, 04 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Brandon Wikoff gets teased plenty by his teammates about his lack of power. On Saturday, the 5-foot-8 Illinois shortstop finally came up with a take-that response. With the wind blowing out at Illinois Field at 28 mph, Wikoff was the only Illini to clear the fence during a 14-4 pummeling of Big Ten rival Northwestern. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/04/wikoffs_power_finally_comes_into_play/ Sun, 04 May 2008 14:00:00 CST Here's a look at this weekend's UI baseball series against Northwestern: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/05/03/illinois-northwestern_baseball_series_preview/ Sat, 03 May 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Linebacker J Leman and soccer standout Mary Therese McDonnell were awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor at the school's awards banquet Tuesday night. Leman, a Champaign Central product who signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, was a consensus All-American and All-Big Ten first-teamer. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/30/top_honors_for_leman_mcdonnell/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST PARK RIDGE – Illinois left fielder Casey McMurray was named Big Ten Player of the Week in baseball on Monday after going 11 for 15 at the plate last weekend in a four-game series against Penn State at Illinois Field. The Illini freshman had a career-high five hits in the series opener and belted out four hits in the finale. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/29/big_ten_honors_illini_mcmurray/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – It probably should come as no surprise that Illinois left fielder Casey McMurray takes a particular rooting interest in the major league careers of David Eckstein and Brian Giles. At 5-foot-8, McMurray can relate to the challenges the 5-7 Eckstein and the 5-10 Giles surely must have faced on their way to The Show. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/28/a_short_memory/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST Q: What are the Illini baseball team's chances of reaching the Big Ten tournament for the fourth straight year? http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/28/ask_the_expert/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Kyle Hudson's right ankle might not be 100 percent, but it isn't affecting Job Number 1 for the Illinois leadoff hitter. On Saturday, Hudson came to the plate six times during a Big Ten doubleheader against Penn State at Illinois Field. Six times, the Illini center fielder reached base. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/27/hudsons_gutty_effort_not_enough_as_ui_takes_a_beating/ Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Where have all the aces gone? That question is being asked with increasing frequency in Big Ten baseball circles this season as scores continue to be uncharacteristically high in series openers. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/26/pitching_problem_lack_of_aces_a/ Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST A look a Illinois' baseball series this weekend against Penn State: http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/25/illinois-penn_state_baseball_series_preview/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Second baseman Joe Bonadonna recorded a career-high five hits, stole three bases and scored four runs to lead Illinois to a 10-2 victory against Western Illinois on Wednesday night at Illinois Field. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/24/texas_stars_opt_for_draft/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Aaron Johnson homered and drove in a career-high four runs, leading Illinois to a 10-4 victory against Illinois State on Tuesday night in nonconference baseball. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/23/johnson_sparks_baseball_squad/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Illinois men's golf team finished 7 strokes out of second place at the competitive Boilermaker Invitational on Sunday in the Illini's final tuneup heading into this week's Big Ten Championships. Illinois, which tied for sixth, beat three Big Ten schools and was 7 strokes behind second-place Michigan State. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/21/golfers_tune_up_for_big_tens/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST PALO ALTO, Calif. – Paul Ruggeri has a lot to live up to the next three years. On Saturday, the freshman won the high bar national championship and was an All-American in the vault and floor exercise. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/20/freshman_ruggeri_claims_high_bar_crown/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST MINNEAPOLIS – Freshman Waylon Chin clinched No. 17 Illinois' 5-2 men's tennis victory Friday against Minnesota with his 6-4, 6-1 triumph at No. 5 singles. Chin teamed with senior Brandon Davis to earn a win at No. 3 doubles. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/19/chin_illini_give_gophers_fits_in_mens/ Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST LOS ANGELES – Edward P. Roski Jr., a part owner of the Kings and Lakers who has spent several years trying to lure an NFL team to the Los Angeles area, has scheduled a news conference at Staples Center to make a "major announcement" concerning the league and L.A. Today, Roski will unveil his latest concept for a stadium in the City of Industry, near the southern intersection of the 57 and 60 freeways some 20 miles east of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Wednesday. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/17/hastings_up_for_class_award/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST MATTOON – It wasn't exactly Cubs-Cardinals or White Sox-Cubs, but judging by the 1,800 folks who packed into Grimes Field at Peterson Park on Tuesday night to watch Eastern Illinois' 13-3 drubbing of Illinois, it might as well have been. The foul balls off the aluminum bats didn't come courtesy of Rick Ankiel, Derrek Lee or Jermaine Dye, but try telling that to the hundreds of youngsters chasing after them. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/16/a_pitcherperfect_atmosphere/ Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Mike Sterk grew up in an Orange-and-Blue-blooded family. His mother, Joyce, is a University of Illinois graduate. Two older brothers preceded the Illini sophomore pitcher to the UI. And although his father, Mark, never attended the school, "He's a huge Illinois fan," Sterk said. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/14/illinois_sterk_living_a_dream/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST Q: After being swept by Michigan over the weekend in a four-game Big Ten series, does the Illini baseball team have a chance to reach the NCAA tournament? http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/14/ask_the_expert/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – The showdown has turned into a smackdown. And now, a suddenly reeling Illinois baseball team has only one more chance today to prove it really belongs in the same conversation as Big Ten-leading Michigan. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/13/poor_timing__sluggish_effort_leaves/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Phil Haig is nowhere to be found in the 2008 Illinois baseball media guide. Just the same, Illini fans might be seeing plenty of the freshman left-hander on the mound the rest of this season. Haig, who was recruited to the UI to play quarterback, continues to make a good impression as a thrower in another sport. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/12/fever_pitch_quarterback_haig_has_been/ Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST Teams: Illinois (18-8, 6-2 Big Ten) vs. Michigan (18-8, 7-1 Big Ten). Schedule: 6:05 p.m. today; 3:05 p.m. Saturday (doubleheader); 1:05 p.m. Sunday. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/baseball/2008/04/11/illinois-michigan_baseball_series_preview/ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:00:00 CST