LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Illinois baseball team scored six runs in the first three innings Friday to beat host Nebraska 8-1 at Haymarket Park. The Illini pounded out 17 hits, including 11 hits off Nebraska ace Matt Waldron.
Illinois (27-13, 7-6 Big Ten) scored early and got an excellent start from left-hander Andy Fisher, who kept Nebraska scoreless for the first six innings. Fisher ended up striking out eight and allowing only one run on three hits in seven innings pitched.Â
"When (Fisher) was in the zone he was basically unhittable," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "He has done such a great job for us all year and continued that today."
Fisher (5-1) was backed by a four-hit, three-RBI day from Nebraska native Grant Van Scoy and a three-hit day from Zac Taylor. Van Scoy's two-RBI double in the third, his second double of the night, gave Illinois its 6-0 lead and broke the game open.Â
Michael Massey, Kellen Sarver, Cam McDonald and Jack Yalowitz all had two hits, as all nine in the Illini lineup reached and eight of nine had at least one hit. Illinois went 11-for-25 with runners on, including 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position, while holding Nebraska to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.Â
Nebraska (22-15, 11-5 Big Ten) scored its lone run in the seventh inning on an RBI groundout by Spencer Schwellenbach. Only No. 9-hole hitter Angelo Altavilla had multiple hits for the Huskers.
Tyler Engel held Nebraska scoreless over the final two innings, helping the Illini finish the game and save their bullpen for the rest of the series. The two teams are back at Haymarket Park for games Saturday (2 p.m. CT) and Sunday (11 a.m. CT).
Highlights
Notes
• Grant Van Scoy had a career-high four hits.
• Grant Van Scoy is on a career-long 23-game reached base streak. Van Scoy is hitting .384 (33-86) during the 23-game streak with six doubles, one triple, two homers and 13 RBIs.
• Matt Waldron's 11 hits allowed tied a career high.
• Illinois played error-free and has made only six errors in 13 Big Ten games.
• Illinois is 26-5 when allowing six or fewer runs and 1-8 when allowing seven or more runs.
• Illinois is 26-6 when scoring four or more runs and 1-7 when scoring three or fewer runs.
• Illinois is 12-8 on the road.
• Illinois is 24-6 when leading or tied after four innings.
• Illinois is outscoring opponents 32-7 in the first inning. Illinois has allowed only four earned runs in the first inning for a 0.90 team ERA in the opening frame. Andy Fisher has yet to allow a first inning earned run.
• Opponents are hitting .194 with runners in scoring position against Illinois this season (71/366).
• Hitting streaks: Massey 7, Van Scoy 6
• Reached base streaks: Van Scoy 23, Taylor 12, Yalowitz 11, Massey 8, Sarver 8
• Jack Yalowitz wore Cyrillo Watson's No. 22 uniform because Yalowitz had his luggage lost by the airline. Yalowitz is believed to be the first Illini wearing No. 22 to get a hit since Toby Gardenhire in 2005. Pitchers Cyrillo Watson (2017-19), Nick Blackburn (2014-16), Kevin Johnson (2010-13) and Ben Reeser (2006-09) have worn No. 22 over the last 14 years.
• Jack Yalowitz's luggage is still missing.
