CONWAY, S.C. -- The Illinois baseball team scored two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to beat defending national champion Coastal Carolina 7-6 in the opener of a three-game series at Springs Brooks Stadium. The win over the No. 21-ranked Chanticleers was the Illini's first over a reigning champ since defeating Minnesota in 1965.
"We competed today and we've competed all year," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We swung the bats well, I was really happy with how we pitched, and one of the key plays was Doran Turchin hustling to beat out a ground ball to the pitcher to tie the game."
Illinois (4-7) tied it in the seventh when Turchin beat out an infield single with two outs and Pat McInerney on third. Turchin sent a check-swing grounder back to reliever Bobby Holmes, who tried to jog to first base instead of throwing or flipping the ball to first baseman Kevin Woodall Jr. to get the third out. Turchin sprinted the entire way out of the box and barely beat Holmes to first as the Chanticleers stood stunned the game was tied.
The winning run came across in the Illini's eighth when Jack Yalowitz singled home Tyler Engel from second base. Engel was in to run for Anthony Drago, who had walked to start the inning. Drago also hit a two-out three-run home run in the fourth inning to give Illinois its first lead of the day.
Quinten Sefcik (1-2) earned his first win of the year by throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless work in the seventh and eighth as the first out of the bullpen. Cole Bellair made his first Friday-night start and went six innings while allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out an Illinois season-best nine batters.
Joey Gerber kept Coastal off the board in the eighth and freshman Ryan Schmitt retired three of four batters in the ninth for his first career save.
Holmes (1-2) was tagged with the loss by allowing Illinois' final three runs over the last three innings. Coastal starter Alex Cunningham lasted six innings before handing the ball over to Holmes.
Eight Illini starters had hits including Yalowitz, Bren Spillane and Michael Massey with two. Spillane got Illinois on the board in the third with a solo home run to right field, his second of the season.
Wood Myers led the Chanticleers with four hits, including one of CCU's three homers.
The teams finish the series Saturday with an 11 a.m. CT doubleheader. Ty Weber and Luke Shilling are scheduled to pitch for Illinois.
Illinois vs. Defending National Champions (6-9)
3/10/2017 at Coastal Carolina, W, 7-6
6/8/2015 vs. Vanderbilt, L, 4-2
6/6/2015 vs. Vanderbilt, L, 13-0
4/3/1969 vs. USC (Riverside, Calif.), L, 17-12
5/12/1967 at Ohio State, L, 6-2
5/12/1967 at Ohio State, L, 3-2
4/24/1965 at Minnesota, L, 5-2
4/24/1965 at Minnesota, W, 10-4
4/26/1963 vs. Michigan, W, 6-5
5/13/1961 at Minnesota, W, 4-3
5/13/1961 at Minnesota, W, 5-1
5/4/1957 at Minnesota, W, 6-3
5/4/1957 at Minnesota, L, 16-3
5/1/1954 at Michigan, L, 3-2
5/1/1954 at Michigan, L, 6-1
