PHOENIXÂ -- Sean Leland struck out eight in 4 1/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen in the Illinois baseball team's 5-2Â win at Grand Canyon. Illinois clinched the three-game series with a chance for the sweep on Sunday.
"I thought we did a good job," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "There are a lot of things we did well and there are a lot of things we need to learn and do better. These guys kept grinding away and grinding away and next thing you know we have a big win."
Sean Leland (2-1) entered in the fourth with Illinois up 3-2 and got the Illini all the way to the ninth inning. Leland allowed only one hit on his way to a career-best eight strikeouts, as the Illini combined to hold Grand Canyon to two hits.Â
"Sean Leland was outstanding," said Hartleb. "Two hits on the day total, our guys did a good job on the mound. I was really pleased with them. A lot of really good things on the mound."
Illinois (9-3) outhit Grand Canyon (6-8), 11-2, including a three-hit day from Ben Troike and two-hit days from Michael Massey and Cam McDonald. Massey doubled and homered and drove in two runs.
The Illini scored two in the first with hits from Troike, Branden Comia and Zac Taylor and never trailed. Ty Weber started and battled through the first 3 2/3 innings while allowing two runs on one hit and walking five.
Garrett Acton got the last two outs of the ninth after Josh Harris worked 1/3 of an inning. Acton saved his second game in as many days for his fifth save of the season.
Illinois is scheduled to start Cyrillo Watson in the series finale Sunday. The Illini will look for its third undefeated weekend in the first four trips of 2019.
Notes
• Illinois is off to its best 12-game start since 2015 (9-2-1).
• Leland's eight strikeouts were two more than his previous career high of six last year against Maryland.Â
• Kellen Sarver snapped a seven-game hitting streak.
Highlights
Full Game
