Josh Klimek, whose name is most closely associated with home runs in the Illinois baseball record book, set a Big Ten record in another category 22 years ago today.
In a May 20, 1996 game against Chicago State, Cougar pitchers wisely avoided the UI slugger by walking him an Illinois Field record four times. This, of course, occurred during a season in which Klimek would slam a record 26 home runs, seven more than the 19 Forry Wells had hit in 1994 and the 19 Scott Spiezio belted in 1992. Entering today's game at Michigan, current Illini junior Bren Spillane has 20 home runs in 2018.