Friday night started off with A.J. Pierzynski hitting a home run in the first inning but this would not be a sign for a win to come. The Sox dropped the first game of the 3 game series to the Oakland A’s with a score of Athletics 6, White Sox 4.

With the start of the Illini 2008 season just two weeks away, the question is, will this team have what it takes to be one of the top teams for a second season in a row? Can head coach Ron Zook lead his team back to the Rose Bowl after last year’s devastating loss? The success of the Illini will depend on a few things this season.