CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Pat McInerney hit a walk-off solo home run to beat Indiana State 2-1 Saturday at Illinois Field. The homer, McInerney's 10th of the season, clinched the series win over the Sycamores.
Ty Weber (2-2) threw his first career complete game, allowing only a game-tying solo homer in the ninth, on his way to his to his second win of the year. Weber allowed only four hits and struck out seven, while walking just one. He retired 15 in a row before Dan Geisler's home run tied it 1-1 with two outs in the ninth.
McInerney answered Geisler's shot with a line-drive blast to left field. It came off of Damon Olds' second pitch of the game, after the sidearm right-hander entered to face McInerney. The homer tied McInerney with Iowa's Jake Adams for the Big Ten lead.
Illinois (8-16) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Trent Hammond doubled and Jack Yalowitz followed with an RBI single. Hamond and McInerney both had two hits.
Tyler Ward shut down the Illini bats for 7 2/3 innings. He allowed only the third-inning run before giving way to the bullpen.
Indiana State (12-11) only had two at-bats with runners in scoring position and went 0-2.
Illinois looks for the sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Luke Shilling is scheduled to pitch for the Illini.
