ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dan Rowbottom hit a three-run home run Sunday to help the Illinois baseball team get a 7-5 win at No. 18 Michigan. The Illini jumped to a 6-0 lead and held on for their first win of the weekend.
"We came out and beat a good team today," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We've made some progress. I thought our freshmen pitchers were outstanding."
Illinois (11-18, 1-5 Big Ten) used three freshmen and a sophomore to earn its second win over a ranked opponent this season. Freshman starter Cyrillo Watson gave the Illini four innings, while allowing five runs, before freshman Ryan Thompson went a career-long 3 1/3 innings of shutout work. Thompson allowed just two hits through the middle innings before giving way to Ryan Schmitt, who got a big strikeout to end the eighth with two runners on.
Michigan (25-7, 6-3 Big Ten) got the potential tying run to first base in the ninth. A hit by pitch and single off of sophomore Joey Gerber set the table, but Gerber got a pop out and strikeout to earn his fourth save of the year.
The Illini opened its big lead with two runs in the second inning and Rowbottom's three-run homer in the third. Illinois' first two runs came when Trent Hammond laid down a safety squeeze that turned into a bunt single plus an error. Ben Troike added an RBI fielder's choice two batters later.
Michael Massey and Pat McInerney led the offense with three hits apiece. Massey added an RBI double in the seventh to plate an insurance run.
Michigan scored four runs in the third inning, led by two-RBI hits from Johnny Slater and Drew Lugbauer. Slater finished with three of the Wolverine's nine hits.
Illinois' other win over a ranked team was March 10 at No. 21 Coastal Carolina (7-6).
The Illini are on the road Tuesday at Illinois State. The next Big Ten action is Friday-Sunday against Northwestern at Illinois Field.
