BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Evan Bell threw a complete game three-hitter to give Indiana a 4-1 win over the Illinois baseball team Sunday at Bart Kaufman Field. Pat McInerney hit a solo home run in the second inning that accounted for the Fighting Illini's only run.
"The pitching did a good job on both sides," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We had a tough first inning and let it get away from us. As it turned out that's the inning that beat us."
Andrew Mamlic (4-7) was tagged for three runs in the first on four hits before settling down to put up five straight scoreless innings. He ended with 6.0 innings pitched, while allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out five without issuing a walk.
Mamlic retired 10 straight after allowing back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the first. He gave the Illini an opportunity to come back before J.D. Nielsen (0.1 IP), Charlie Naso (0.2 IP) and Luke Shilling (1.0) kept the score 4-1.
"Offensively, we didn't do a very good job," said Hartleb. "I thought we hit some balls hard but we weren't very consistent top to bottom with quality at-bats."
Illinois (26-22, 9-10) had three hits in the game and scored four runs in the 2-1 series loss. Jason Goldstein, who hit .417 (5-12) in the series, had a single and Trent Hammond doubled to make up the rest of the Illini's offense outside of McInerney's homer. Michael Hurwitz snapped his career-best reached base streak at 26 games.
Indiana (31-18, 15-6 Big Ten) was led by Craig Dedelow, who had three hits, and Scotty Bradley, who had two RBIs. Bell tossed his second complete game of the season, allowing three hits and striking out six in 113 pitches.
The Illini fell to ninth place in the Big Ten, one game behind Maryland and Penn State for the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament. Illinois owns the tie breaker over both teams, having won series against each.
Illinois hosts Michigan for a three-game series Thursday-Saturday at Illinois Field. Saturday's regular season finale is "Senior Day" and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
