INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Illinois will play in Champaign Tuesday afternoon at 5 PM. The game will stream live on B1G+. Live stats are also on option on FightingIllini.com.
 
Projected Starters
LHP Brandon Haggerty vs. RHP Jack Crowder
 
Scouting Illinois
The Fighting Illini are 5-8 overall with wins over Kansas, Middle Tennessee, #25 West Virginia and most recently Western Kentucky (2x). Tuesday's tilt vs. Butler will mark the second home game of the year for the Illini. They were defeated 4-2 in their home opener on March 8 by Eastern Illinois.
 
Head Coach Dan Hartleb has three everyday starters batting over .300 this year. Brody Harding has the highest average on the team at .351 and Cam McDonald is close behind at .333. McDonald is a power hitter with five doubles and a team-best three home runs. He leads the club with 13 RBI.
 
On the mound, Illinois will throw RHP Jack Crowder. Tuesday will be the season debut for Crowder, a 6-4 sophomore from Romeoville, Ill. Crowder came out of Plainfield East H.S. as the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in Illinois by Perfect Game and No. 3 by Prep Baseball Report. He made nine total appearances last year, going 2-0 on the mound with 11 strikeouts and just five walks in 9.2 innings of work.
 
Undefeated at Home
Butler is 4-0 at home this year after sweeping a three-game series against Western Illinois. The also won their home opener over Manchester on March 2 by the final score of 5-2.
 
Holt Homers
Travis Holt homered for the first time this season in Monday afternoon's game against Western Illinois. The round-tripper tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and helped BU remain undefeated at home this season. Holt has been great over his 15 games as a Bulldog. The graduate transfer is batting .365 with 15 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. He leads the club with nine multi-hit games and is currently on a six-game hitting streak.
 
Reached Base Streak
Aaron Steinhart has reached base safely in all 15 games this season. The BU designated hitter is batting .365 on the year with six doubles and two homers to help post a team-best 17 RBI.
 
Haggerty Heads to the Mound
Brandon Haggerty will make his first start of the season on Tuesday night at Illinois. The left-hander has made two appearances this year, helping Butler record four outs.
 
Up Next
Butler will host a three-game series against Eastern Michigan this weekend. Single games are slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Game one on Friday will start at 4 PM.