MINNEAPOLIS -- The Illinois baseball team rallied for two runs in the ninth Friday before falling 5-4 at Minnesota in the opener of a three-game series.
Illinois (15-23, 3-10 Big Ten) scored two runs off of Minnesota (25-12, 9-4 Big Ten) closer Brian Glowicki when Doran Turchin double to left field with two outs in the ninth. Jack Yalowitz followed and lined out to right field with the potential tying run at second base.
"We hit a lot of balls hard in the ninth," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We battled back and Jack hit a ball hard but it was right at somebody."
The lineout finished Glowicki's NCAA-leading 15th save, tying him for the most in Minnesota single-season history. Glowicki previously had allowed just one run all season before Illinois scored twice.
"We battled but we have to find ways to win games," said Hartleb. "We've really improved in some areas but we need to start getting over the hump and winning."
Turchin led the Illini with his second straight two-hit game. Yalowitz drove in a run on a double in the seventh and Tyler Engel had an RBI fielder's choice in the third.
Ty Weber (2-5) took the loss in six innings of work. He allowed five runs on 11 hits, including a three-run homer off the bat of Toby Hanson in the third that gave Minnesota a lead it would not relinquish.
Lucas Gilbreath (5-0) stayed undefeated for Minnesota. The left-hander struck out seven, while allowing two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Tim Shannon pitched 1 2/3 innings scoreless to get to Glowicki.
Minnesota had five players with multiple hits to get to 13 as a team. Hanson drove in four and leadoff man Jordan Kozicky led the Gophers with three hits.
The teams are back Saturday at Siebert Field for a 1 p.m. CT doubleheader.
