CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No. 18 Illinois (15-4-1) used 23 players on Wednesday at Illinois Field in a 7-1 win over Lindenwood-Belleville (7-13). The midweek game provided plenty of opportunities for different Illini to see action. On a staff day, five Illini pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, which equaled a season high.
Junior Ryan Nagle, who went 2-for-3, doubled in the first and scored on sophomore Pat McInerney's RBI single to give the Illini a 1-0 lead. Starter Rob McDonnell did not allow a hit over his two scoreless innings of work.
Junior J.D. Nielsen took over in the third, as the Lynx tied it up with an RBI double. The lefty reliever fanned three in the fourth and finished with a career-high five strikeouts.
The Illini jumped ahead 4-1 with a three-run third. Redshirt-sophomore Adam Walton led off with a bunt single followed by a fly out, Reid Roper single and McInerney hit by pitch to load the bases. Senior Casey Fletcher knocked in a pair with a single to left, while senior David Kerian added a sac fly after a walk to junior Jason Goldstein.
Illinois tacked on three runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Senior Will Krug doubled home Kerian, while Walton plated Krug with a double to the gap in left center. Redshirt-freshman Dan Rowbottom collected his first career RBI when he drove in Walton for the seventh and final run.
Sophomore Cody Sedlock (3-0) was credited with the win after tossing a scoreless fifth and sixth inning. Senior Anthony Milazzo made his season debut with a zero in the seventh, while junior Nick Blackburn wrapped up the evening with four strikeouts over two perfect innings.
Up Next: No. 18 Illinois will play host to a three-game series at Illinois Field this weekend (March 20-22) when South Florida comes to town.
