OMAHA, Neb. -- The Illinois baseball team was held to three hits Thursday by Minnesota's Reggie Meyer in a 3-0 loss in the Big Ten Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park. Meyer threw a shutout in 106 pitches.
Illinois (32-19) will play an elimination game Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT against Indiana. The winner moves on to Saturday to face Purdue, having to sweep a doubleheader to reach Sunday's championship game.
No. 11 Minnesota (39-13) advanced to the semifinals Saturday and will get a day off Friday.
Meyer (7-3) allowed only six base runners and struck out a career-high eight of 31 batters faced. Bren Spillane, Jeff Korte and Ben Troike had singles for the Illini. Troike's single through the left side in the ninth extended his nation-leading reached base streak to 56 games.
The Gophers got on the board twice in the first with four singles before Illinois starter Andy Fisher (6-3) settled in. Fisher allowed three runs in seven innings for his fifth quality start in the last six outings, while striking out a career-best nine batters.
Toby Hanson and Luke Pettersen led the Gophers with two hits each.
Illinois will throw Ty Weber (4-3, 3.62 ERA) Friday against Indiana lefty Tim Herrin (5-0, 2.84 ERA).
Notes
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Andy Fisher tied for Illinois' season-high with nine strikeouts (
Ty Weber at Indiana, April 29, 2018).
• Illinois was shutout for the first time since Feb. 18, 2018 against Austin Peay (L, 2-0).
• Illinois and Minnesota met in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2013.
• Illinois is 2-13 against Minnesota all-time in the Big Ten Tournament
• The Illini are 30-36 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament with four titles (1989, 1990, 2000, 2011).
•
Ben Troike has reached base in all 51 games this season. His current reached base streak is 56 dating back to the final five games of last season, the longest active streak in the nation.
