CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois scored six unanswered runs to come back and beat Saint Louis, 6-4, Friday night at Illinois Field. Trent Hammond drove in four runs, including a two-run home run in the fifth and the game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the eighth.
"This is a big step forward tonight because it wasn't just the fact that we won but we had composure at the plate in those situations," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We've had the same type of opportunities in a lot of other games when we've swung at pitches out of the strike zone and we almost panicked. Tonight we showed a lot of composure, which was huge."
Illinois (15-16) came from behind with two runs in the fifth, a solo score in the seventh and three runs in the eighth. Hammond's four RBIs were a career high as the Fighting Illini won for the fourth time in their last six games.
Dan Rowbottom singled to get Illinois started in the eighth inning and after two walks, Adam Walton tied the game by beating out a potential double-play ball to drive in Rowbottom. Hammond followed with a two-out, two-strike single to left center to give the Illini their first lead of the day.
Hammond also started the comeback with his second home run in the last four games.
"I was looking for a pitch to drive," said Hammond. "I was just trying to drive the ball and not do anything too special with it, but it ended up as a homer. I am trying to square the ball up and help this team learn."
Michael Hurwitz drew a bases loaded walk to get Illinois within one run in the seventh.
Saint Louis (16-19) plated three in the second and James Morisano hit a solo homer in the third to make it 4-0. Morisano ended the day with two hits and two runs scored.
Cody Sedlock grinded through 5.0 innings, striking out seven but allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks. He threw 93 pitches before Quinten Sefcik, Charlie Naso, J.D. Nielsen (3-1) and Nick Blackburn each threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The relievers combined for 4.0 innings of one-hit ball while striking out five.
Nick Vichio (1-1) took the loss for Saint Louis. He allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in the eighth. SLU ace Matt Eckelman looked sharp in the early innings before allowing three runs on four hits in 6.2 innings.
The two teams are back at Illinois Field tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT for the second game of the series.
