| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day | Illinois | FGCU |
| Friday | RHP Cody Sedlock (0-0, 1.50) | RHP Sterling Koerner (0-1, 10.12) |
| Saturday | LHP Doug Hayes (0-1, 4.50) | RHP Brady Anderson (0-1, 5.79) |
| Sunday | RHP Andrew Mamlic (0-0, 1.59) | RHP Mario Leon (0-1, 9.00) |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Another challenging weekend is ahead for the Illinois baseball team when it travels South to take on Florida Gulf Coast, a team predicted to finish second in the Atlantic Sun and be in the running for an NCAA Tournament spot. The two teams are slated to matchup three times Friday-Sunday at FGCU's Swanson Stadium in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Illinois (1-2) took one of three games at No. 19 Tulane to open the 2016 season last weekend. Senior catcher Jason Goldstein led the team in hitting (6-12, .500), including a 3-for-4 outing Sunday to help the Illini take the series finale, 5-2. The Illini pitching staff, led by top-40 prospect Cody Sedlock, had a 3.46 ERA, while the lineup combined to hit. 248 with nine doubles.
Florida Gulf Coast (1-3) also played a highly-touted opponent to start the campaign, dropping three straight to No. 1 Florida Friday-Sunday. Tyler Selesky, who leads the team with a .400 average, went 4 for 5 in a rebound win at South Florida, 6-5, on Tuesday to get the Eagles their first victory.
Mike Waddell will have the radio call for all three games on the Fighting Illini Sports Network. No live video will be available.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FGCU
• Record: 5-1-1 (.786)
• Last meeting: T, 4-4 (2/22/2014 at FGCU)
• First meeting: W, 6-3 (2/25/2011 at FGCU)
• Illini are 3-0-1 in its last four games against FGCU
• This will be the third straight year the two teams have met
• The last meeting was the Illini's first tie since 2005
NOW TRENDING - #ILLINI
JASON GOLDSTEIN
• Catcher Jason Goldstein is 12th in the nation in hits among catchers after going 6 for 12 in the series at No. 19 Tulane. Goldstein's three-hit game on Sunday was capped with a two-out two-RBI go-ahead single in the eighth inning.
CODY SEDLOCK - @CodySedlock
• Cody Sedlock leads the Big Ten in strikeouts and was the only Opening Day starter in the nation to fan 10+ against a ranked opponent. The junior right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits over 6.0 innings, while striking out 10 and walking one in a no-decision Friday at No. 19 Tulane.
ANTHONY DRAGO - @ADrago18
• All four of designated hitter Anthony Drago's hits against No. 19 Tulane were doubles. He is tied for the Big Ten lead in two-baggers after the first weekend.
ANDREW MAMLIC
• Andrew Mamlic allowed just one earned run on six hits while striking out six in 5.2 innings Sunday. It was his first career start after making 30 appearances out of the bullpen over the last three seasons.
HARTLEB'S TAKE
"That's a big win for us," said head coach Dan Hartleb after the Illini's first win of the season Sunday. "We scuffled a little bit early again. From a hitting standpoint, we weren't very good early but we found away to push some runs across the plate late."
UP NEXT
Illinois makes a trip to DeLand, Florida, for the Stetson Invitational March 4-6. The Fighting Illini are scheduled to take on Central Michigan, Stetson and Villanova on consecutive days.
