CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Northwestern scored 10 runs in the first four innings Saturday to beat the Illinois baseball team 11-4. The three-game series is tied 1-1 with the rubber match scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
Illinois (13-19, 2-6 Big Ten) fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and 10-2 by the start of the fifth.
Northwestern (13-21, 3-5 Big Ten) took control with Matt Hopfner's three-run inside the park homer in the first and Joe Hoscheit's grand slam in the fourth. The Wildcats had 12 hits, including five for extra bases.
Cyrillo Watson (1-3) took the loss in his first career Saturday start. He allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Quinten Sefcik relieved Watson and gave Illinois 4 2/3 innings of hitless work.
Pat McInerney led the offense with three hits and one RBI. Jack Yalowitz and Dan Rowbottom added two hits apiece as part of Illinois' 11 hits. Rowbottom homered in the fourth, his third of the season.
Hank Christie (2-4) was the winning pitcher for Northwestern after going the first six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.
Hoscheit, Hopfner and Willie Bourbon all finished with multiple hits and multiple RBIs for Northwestern.
Matthew James is scheduled to start Sunday for Illinois against Northwestern's Matt Gannon.
