CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois baseball team has nine lives left.
If the defending Big Ten champions want to return to the postseason, there are nine chances to move up the conference standings.
After Sunday’s 14-6 blowout loss to league-leading Minnesota, the Illini sit ninth in the conference.
At 7-8 in league play (21-19 overall), Illinois is one game behind Ohio State for the final berth in the Big Ten tournament, which is scheduled for late May in Omaha, Neb.
“I thought the first two games (against Minnesota), we competed very well,” Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said.