Preview: Fighting Illini Look to Hand Trojans First Loss

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The undefeated and top-ranked Southern California Trojans host the Illinois Fighting Illini in a nonconference baseball matchup Saturday at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

The Trojans (12-0), one of the nation’s last remaining unbeaten teams, will put their perfect record on the line against a surging Illinois squad (7-4) that has won five of its last six games. Southern California edged UC Irvine 6-4 on Tuesday, while Illinois is coming off a 14-6 road win at Albany on March 1.

This game, organized by the Big Ten, is the second of a two-game set. Southern California won the opener 1-0 on Friday.

Illinois will rely on the hot bat of outfielder Collin Jennings. The junior is batting .500 (10 for 20) with three home runs and eight RBIs over his last six games. He went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs in the win over Albany.

Southern California’s strength has been its pitching staff, which boasts a 2.15 team ERA. A key arm is reliever Cameron Fausset, who has not allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings over two appearances this season. He threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against UC Irvine.

The Trojans’ offense is powered by Jack Basser (.345) and Augie Lopez, who hit a two-run homer in Tuesday’s victory.

Illinois’ recent surge has been fueled by offense, scoring 51 runs during its 5-1 stretch. Alongside Jennings, first baseman AJ Putty homered and drove in three against Albany.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a narrow 7-6 victory for Southern California.

First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. PDT.

UP NEXT

Illinois: Hosts Western Illinois on Tuesday. Southern California: Hosts Long Beach State on Tuesday.