EVANSTON, Ill. -- Jack Yalowitz hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning Sunday to give the No. 24 Illinois baseball team a 4-2 win at Northwestern. The Illini swept the three-game series at Miller Park and have won 14 of their last 16 games.
Illinois (15-5, 3-0 Big Ten) sits at the top of the Big Ten standings, tied with Michigan at 3-0, thanks to an excellent relief outing from Ryan Thompson. The right-hander threw the last three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five, including three straight strikeouts after entering with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
"Can't say enough about our guys," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "The difference in the game was Ryan Thompson. He struck out those three guys with the bases loaded and gave us some energy."
Illinois used that momentum to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the ninth. Jeff Korte led off the inning with a single, Casey Dodge bunted pinch runner David Craan to second, a wild pitch moved Craan to third and Grant Van Scoy delivered a game-tying sac fly.
Yalowitz hit the game-winning homer over the right field wall after Ben Troike walked to start the 10th.
Bren Spillane led Illinois with three hits. Spillane hit .600 (6-10) for the series with two doubles, a homer, four walks, four runs and three steals.
Thompson (5-1) earned his team-leading fifth win of the season after coming in for Sean Leland (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER). Ty Weber started and pitched 6 2/3 innings while allowing one run on three hits.
Northwestern (7-11, 0-3 Big Ten) used six pitchers. Jack Pagliarini threw the first six innings, allowing only one unearned run on five hits. Danny Katz (0-3) took the loss.
Illinois is back in action Tuesday at Bradley. The Illini's Big Ten home opener is Friday against Iowa.
Notes
• Illinois has won 14 of its last 16 games.
• Illinois swept a Big Ten series on the road for the first time since May 1-3, 2015 at Ohio State.
• Illinois has won 18 of its last 20 games against Northwestern dating back to 2011.
• Illinois is 174-88 all-time against Northwestern.
• Michael Massey extended his career-long reached base streak to 25 games.
• Ben Troike extended his career-long reached base streak to 25 games.
• Michael Michalak extended his career-long hitting streak to eight games.
• Illinois is 12-2 when scoring first.
• Bren Spillane's last seven games: .630 (17-27), 6 HR, 5 2B, 16 RBI, 11 R, 40 total bases, .697 on-base percentage, 1.481 slugging percentage, 5-6 SB
