BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Jeff Korte hit two home runs Friday, including a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth, to lead the Illinois baseball team to a 7-6 win at Florida Atlantic. Korte's second homer tied it 6-6 before Illinois scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk issued to Zac Taylor.
"It was a fun night at the end," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We didn't play very well. We made some mistakes, we weren't particularly sharp on the mound, we struck out, but it doesn't matter. Our guys don't give in. They had great energy trying to find a way to win. Our guys battle and they believe."
Korte, a Melbourne, Florida, native, provided the ninth-inning drama in his first game back in his home state against FAU All-American closer Zach Schneider. Cam McDonald walked to lead off the ninth then Kellen Sarver was hit by a pitch two batters later to set up Korte.
With the game tied, Ben Troike and Branden Comia singled ahead of an intentional walk to Michael Massey. Taylor took four pitches for the RBI walk and Illinois held on for the 7-6 victory.
Illinois (4-0) opened a two-run lead on Korte's second-inning homer but FAU answered with two in the second and two in the third. The Owls led the rest of the way until Korte's second blast.
The bullpen gave Illinois a chance by throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing only two runs while striking out nine. Florida Atlantic (3-2) scored four of its six runs with two outs but Illinois pitching stranded 11 Owls on base.
Freshman Caleb Larson (1-0) earned his first career win in his first career appearance by throwing a shutout eighth inning. Josh Harris (1.1 IP, 0 R, 4 K), Sean Leland (3.1, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K) and Larson got the game to Garrett Acton, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.
FAU had more total hits, two-out hits, hits with runners in scoring position and leadoff base runners than Illinois. The top of the order did most of the damage for FAU, as the No. 1-3 hitters went 6-for-14 with three RBIs and three runs scored.Â
Illinois and FAU are back Saturday at FAU Baseball Stadium for the second game of the three-game set. Andy Fisher is scheduled to start for Illinois.
Notes
• Illinois is 4-0 for the first time since 2015.
• Illinois led or were tied for the first 29 innings of the season before FAU's lead in the third.
• Illinois' bullpen on the seasonÂ
» 3-0, 0.98 ERA, 18.1 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 21 K
• FAU's Schneider blew a save for only the second time in his two years at FAU. It was his second home run allowed and only second time pitching in an FAU loss. The three earned runs off Schneider were his most allowed in a one-inning appearance.
• Korte believes it is the first two-homer game of his life.
Highlights
