Illinois righty Jack Crowder (Illinois Athletics)

Midwest Connection: Akron, Illinois observations from opening weekend

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Starting the season on the road with a round robin weekend hosted by the top team in the nation is no easy task for Northern programs, but Akron and Illinois showed reasons to be optimistic in Winston-Salem. 

Predicted by pundits – including yours truly – to finish last in the MAC, Akron played tough this weekend, going 2-2 after splitting a doubleheader with Illinois, and coming from behind to beat Fordham before dropping the finale to Wake Forest. 

Making his D1 head coaching debut after coming over from St. Edward’s (Texas), Bryan Faulds reflected on the opening[…]