ALWAYS win on Sunday! That is the motto and the rule to live by. Of course you want to win every game, but this is baseball, it just isn't going to happen. If you win on Sunday though, you are looking to salvage a win, win a series, or sweep a series. In addition, winning on Sunday helps get the team ready for the week ahead and set the tone.
Today, the Horns look to close out the Las Vegas Classic with a win over the Fighting Illini of Illinois to extend their winning streak and bring home another preseason tournament title.
In case you missed the weekend preview, check out the thread here - WEEKEND PREVIEW
#15 TEXAS LONGHORNS v. Illinois Fighting Illini
Date: March 2nd
Where: Las Vegas
Time: 1pm CST
TV: D1Baseball.com – Use code TEX25 for $10 off the fee
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone
Illinois is off to a good start in 2025, with back to back series wins over Abilene Christian and Texas State. The series win over Texas State looks even more impressive after the Bobcats went into College Station and beat the #1 ranked team in the nation this past Tuesday.
Offensively, the Fighting Illini have had the bats going and continue to supplement the hot bats with a bevy of stolen bases to put pressure on opposing pitching staffs. That is one aspect of the matchup against Texas that will be worth watching as Texas struggled mightily with runners on the base paths last year. Has Rylan Galvan taken the next step?
The Illini were strong offensively in 2024, which helped them win the Big 10, but the most surprising aspect in 2025 is how well the starting rotation has done. Texas will have a battle on their hands on Sunday as they will go up against Julius Sanchez who has 13Ks in 12 IP and has walked just 1 batter.
SERIES MATCHUP:
- First meeting: 1914
- Last meeting: 1991 – Horns swept the three-game series in Austin
- All-Time Series: 5-4
- Home: 5-2
- Away: 0-2
- Neutral: 0-0
- Illinois was picked to finish 8th out of 17 by D1Baseball.com
RECORDS:
Texas: 8-1 (0-0 SEC)
Illinois: 6-3 (0-0 Big 10)
PITCHING MATCHUPS:
Sunday – Texas LHP Kade Bing (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 IP) v. RHP Julius Sanchez (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 12 IP)
Illinois Top Relievers:
- Sam Reed (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2 apps, 5 IP)
- Ryan Daly (1-0, 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 2 apps, 4.1 IP)
- Jake Swartz (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 1 app, 3 IP)
Illinois Offensive Leaders:
- Nick Groves (.417 BA, 1.041 OPS, 1x 2B, 9 RBI, .458 SLG%, .583 OB%, 5-5 SB)
- Greg LaChance (.400 BA, 1.020 OPS, 1 HR, 11 RBI, .520 SLG%, .500 OB%, 4-4 SB)
- Kyle Schupmann (.391 BA, 1.213 OPS, 2x 2B, 1x 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .696 SLG%, .517 OB%, 3-3 SB)
STARTING LINEUPS:
HORNS
| 1 | 2b | 5 Ethan Mendoza | R | .429 | |
| 2 | rf | 44 Max Belyeu | L | .447 | |
| 3 | cf | 8 Will Gasparino | R | .222 | |
| 4 | dh | 24 Adrian Rodriguez | B | .395 | |
| 5 | ss | 1 Jalin Flores | R | .281 | |
| 6 | 1b | 10 Kimble Schuessler | R | .256 | |
| 7 | c | 52 Cole Chamberlain | L | .125 | |
| 8 | 3b | 31 Casey Borba | R | .200 | |
| 9 | lf | 9 Easton Winfield | L | .105 | |
| 10 | p | 11 Kade Bing | L | - |
ILLINOIS
| 1 | lf | 25 Chee-Aloy, Cameron | R | .257 | |
| 2 | cf | 29 Groves, Nick | L | .382 | |
| 3 | 3b | 32 Schupmann, Kyle | R | .375 | |
| 4 | ss | 2 Zebig, Jack | L | .385 | |
| 5 | 2b | 3 Quagliano, Coltin | R | .273 | |
| 6 | dh | 7 Ross, Grant | R | .455 | |
| 7 | 1b | 34 Westcott, Drake | L | .189 | |
| 8 | c | 8 Schroeder, Jacob | R | .161 | |
| 9 | rf | 38 Jennings, Collin | L | .333 | |
| 10 | p | 15 Sanchez, Julius | R | - |
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