CARBONDALE, Ill. -- All nine Illini in the starting lineup had hits Tuesday to lead the Illinois baseball team to a 6-5 win over Southern Illinois. Six different Illini scored runs and five had RBIs in Illinois' third straight win.
Illinois (19-23) scored in four innings, including two in the second and two in the fifth. The fifth-inning runs gave the Illini a 5-3 lead; an advantage they would hold on through Joey Gerber picking up his seventh save in the ninth.
Freshmen Michael Massey and Ben Troike led the team with two hits apiece, as Massey extended his career-long hitting streak to 14 games. Massey has seven multi-hit games during the streak and is the two-time reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Starter Cole Bellair allowed three runs on five hits in four innings before five relievers through one inning each and allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out five. Four of the relievers - Quinten Sefcik, Zak Devermann, Ryan Schmitt and Gerber - threw scoreless frames. Devermann (1-0) picked up his first career win by getting three straight outs in the sixth after Sefcik allowed a hit to the leadoff batter.
Southern Illinois (23-23) dropped to .500 overall on the season. The Salukis used five pitchers after starter Jamison Steege allowed three runs in four innings.
No. 9-hole hitter Dyllin Mucha homered as part of a two-hit day to lead SIU.
Illinois completed an eight-game road swing with its win at Southern Illinois. The Illini return to Illinois Field this weekend for three games Friday-Sunday. The series kicks off Friday with Lou Boudreau Day and the Bleacher Bum BBQ.
