LINCOLN, Neb. – The Illinois baseball team could not hold on to its 6-4 lead after four innings Sunday in a 9-7 loss at Nebraska's Hawks Field. The Huskers ended the Fighting Illini's streak of nine straight Big Ten series won with come-from-behind wins on Saturday and Sunday.
Nebraska (19-8, 5-1 Big Ten) scored four unanswered runs in the fifth and the sixth to take control of the game. Scott Schreiber led the comeback with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, before driving home another run in the sixth on a single.
Illinois (11-14, 3-3 Big Ten) swung the bats well early, but cooled off to go 2 for 13 between the fourth and eighth innings. Both of those hits were by Michael Hurwitz, who also delivered a two-RBI double as part of a four-run rally with two-outs in the fourth.
The Illini managed to get the potential tying run to first base in the ninth after two hits and a walk, but two straight strikeouts ended the threat. Dan Rowbottom singled and Pat McInerney sent a line drive to the left center gap for a ninth-inning double and RBI before Nebraska closer Chad Luensmann finished his fifth save.
Freshman Cole Bellair (0-1) was tagged with his first loss after going 5.0 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits. He entered the game ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten in ERA (0.65), but struggled with his control and walked a career-high four batters.
The Huskers were led by Schreiber, who finished with four hits and four RBIs, and Ben Miller, who had three singles. Jake Meyers, Jesse Wilkening and Steven Reveles each had two hits for Nebraska.
Rowbottom and Hurwitz each finished with three hits.
Illinois went 8 for 20 with runners on, but left nine runners on base while batting 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Nebraska went 5 for 15 with runners in scoring position as part of its 14-hit game.
Illinois' last Big Ten series loss had been May 15-17, 2014 at Nebraska.
The Illini return home Tuesday against Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. CT. Illinois travels to Iowa City, Iowa, next weekend to take on the Hawkeyes.
