COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Illinois baseball team won a 4-2 game Sunday at Maryland to clinch the Big Ten series 2-1. The Illini scored all of its runs without an RBI hit, scoring on a walk, a wild pitch and two sac flies.
Illinois (19-8, 6-3 Big Ten) had only four hits, all singles, on a cold day with the wind blowing in. Maryland (15-17, 3-3 Big Ten) outhit the Illini, 8-4, but left 13 runners on base.
The game was tied 2-2 in the eighth when Illinois scored two runs without the benefit of a hit. The inning started with three straight walks, then Doran Turchin and Jack Yalowitz delivered sac flies to make it 4-2.
Michael Michalak had two hits and Ben Troike scored twice. Michalak and Troike each had five hits on the weekend to lead Illinois.
Ryan Thompson picked up his sixth win of the year out of the bullpen, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Ty Weber (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER). Joey Gerber got the last four outs, three on strikeouts, to secure his eighth save of the season.
Maryland used five pitchers. Mike Vasturia took the loss after issuing a leadoff walk to Troike in the eighth that got the rally started.
Illinois is back in action Tuesday against Illinois State and Illinois Field. The Illini's next nine games are at home.
Notes
• Illinois has won 18 of its last 23 games.
• Ben Troike extended his career-long reached base streak to 32 games.
• Joey Gerber's eight saves are tied for the eighth most in an Illinois season. Gerber matched his saves total from 2017.
• Illinois is 15-1 when leading after four innings.
• Illinois is 15-3 when scoring first.
