CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team won a pair of 5-4 decisions Saturday over Southern Illinois to open its 2019 home schedule. The Illini's Jacob Campbell had a walk-off sac fly in the first game before Illinois scored two in the eighth to win the nightcap.
Illinois (12-3) is off to its 15-game start since the 2009 team also started 12-3. It is tied for the best 15-game start in the last 30 seasons of the program.
The Illini have a chance at their fourth sweep in the first five weekends Sunday at 1 p.m. CT against SIU.
Highlights
Game 1 - Illinois 5, Southern Illinois 4
Jacob Campbell hit a walk-off sac fly in the home opener to send Illinois to a 5-4 win in the first game of the doubleheader. Illinois won its fifth straight home opener.
Kellen Sarver led the Illini with three hits and Michael Massey homered for the third straight game. Campbell and Grant Van Scoy each drove in two runs.Â
Andy Fisher tied his season-long with seven strong innings on the mound, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Quinten Sefcik (1-0) threw two hitless innings to get the win.Â
Game 2 - Illinois 5, Southern Illinois 4
Illinois scored two in the eighth inning of the second game to win by the identical 5-4 score. The Illini held a 3-0 lead but allowed four unearned runs in the seventh to fall behind.
Jack Yalowitz provided the game-tying double in the eighth, then Illinois worked the bases loaded and pushed across the winning run on a passed ball. Cam McDonald and Grant Van Scoy led the offense with three hits apiece.
Ty Weber threw the first six innings without allowing an earned run, although he was tagged for three unearned runs in the seventh. Weber scattered six hits and struck out four.Â
Sean Leland (3-1) got the win after two good innings on the mound, allowing one unearned on two hits. Garrett Acton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save of the season.Â
The Illini found a way to win despite leaving nine on base and going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.Â
Notes
• Illinois is 41-39 all-time against Southern Illinois.
• Dan Hartleb is 23-14 against Southern Illinois, his alma mater, as a head coach.Â
• Illinois won its fifth straight home opener.
• Illinois is 11-0 when holding opponents to six or fewer runs.
• Michael Massey homered for the third straight game during the first game.
• Illinois center fielder Zac Taylor missed both games with an injury.
• Cam McDonald played center field for the first time in his career.
• Illinois hit eight balls with exit velocities over 100 mph, including three by Jack Yalowitz.
