The Illini baseball team has won its first-ever NCAA regional, while also setting a record for wins in a season.
Their 50th win of the season, an 8-4 defeat of Wright State, means Illinois will host the defending College World Series champion Vanderbilt Commodores in a Super Regional in Champaign next weekend.
Vanderbilt took their own regional Monday in convincing fashion, a 21-0 rout of Radford. Coach Dan Hartleb says there’s no question the Commodores are a great team, but the Illini are up to the challenge:
“You just have to go up, and have a solid approach, and swing at balls in the zone, and we’ll be in great shape. It’s going to be a great super regional, and that’s what it’s all about. You have to beat good people to get to the top, and that’s what we’re going out to accomplish.”
Games have been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday night, and will be broadcast on ESPNU. The winner moves on to the College World Series.