CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team used six pitchers Tuesday to combine on a four-hitter in a 7-1 win over Illinois State at Illinois Field. It was a bullpen day for the Illini and the offense supported the pitchers by scoring in six different innings.
Illinois (6-12) was led by Michael Massey's three-hit, two-RBI day, and also got two-hit outings from Doran Turchin and Pat McInerney. Jack Yalowitz added two sac flies for two RBIs as Illinois cruised to a win in its first midweek game of the season.
Cyrillo Watson (1-1) pitched the first three innings without giving up a hit on his way to his first career victory. He was credited with the win despite only getting through three innings on 49 pitches due to a predetermined pitch-count limit. Watson struck out two and walked two.
After Quinten Sefcik allowed one run on three hits in the fourth and fifth, Illinois, next four relievers each threw one frame and combined to allow just one hit. Zack Jones (1.0 IP, 1 H), Ryan Thompson (1.0 IP, 0 H), Ryan Schmitt (1.0 IP, 0 H) and Joey Gerber (1.0 IP, 0 H) shut down the Redbirds through the remainder of the game.
Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two innings and never looked back. The Illini scored two in the first, its only multi-run inning, on two-out RBI singles from Casey Dodge and Massey.
Illinois State lefthander Colton Johnson (1-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in the first three innings.
The Illini open Big Ten play this weekend against Michigan State. The Spartans visit for a three-game series Friday-Sunday.
