CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Southern Illinois broke a 2-2 tie Tuesday with one run in the sixth inning, four in the seventh and five the eighth to beat the Illinois baseball team 12-3 at Itchy Jones Stadium. Illinois previously swept SIU in a three-game series to win the season series 3-1.
"We didn't do the things we needed to do and Southern just stuck it to us," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We played poorly, that's all you can say to it."
Illinois (28-15) gave Southern Illinois 15 free passes, 12 walks and three hit by pitches. All of Southern's runs in the seventh were driven in on free passes with two outs, three on walks and one on a hit batter, as SIU broke the game open.
Southern Illinois (18-22) snapped a 10-game losing streak. SIU was led by Philip Archer's two hits, two runs and two RBIs, including a two-run homer in the second inning. Nikola Vasic added two hits and two RBIs, Grey Epps hit solo homer in the sixth, Aiden McMahan drove in three runs, and Alex Lyon scored three times.
Zac Taylor led Illinois with two hits and scored all three of the Illini's runs. Taylor, Ben Troike, Kellen Sarver, Cam McDonald and Grant Van Scoy all hit doubles.Â
Illinois returns Wednesday to Illinois Field to face Indiana State to start a seven-game homestand. The Illini host Indiana for three games over the weekend, starting with the Bleacher Bum BBQ on Friday night.Â
Notes
• Illinois has won six of its last eight games.
• Illinois' RPI dropped five spots to No. 25 in the nation.
• Illinois won the season series against Southern Illinois 3-1.
• Illinois is 42-40 all-time against Southern Illinois.
• Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is 24-15 all-time against his alma mater Southern Illinois.
• Illinois issued a season-high 15 free passes (12 BB, 3 HBP).
• Taylor tied his career high with three runs score.
• Illinois is outscoring opponents 35-7 in the first inning. Illinois has allowed only four earned runs in the first inning for a 0.84 team ERA in the opening frame.Â
• Jack Yalowitz did not play due to an injury. Yalowitz has tied his career-long reached base streak of 13 games.
• Hitting streaks: Sarver 5, Yalowitz 3
• Reached base streaks: Taylor 15, Yalowitz 13, Massey 11, Sarver 11
• Kellen Sarver is on a career-long reached base streak of 11 games.
• Southern Illinois wore blue and green uniforms to celebrate National Donate Life Month.
Up Next
Wed., May 1 at 6 p.m. » Indiana State at Illinois (Wing Wednesday)
Fri., May 3 at 6 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (Bleacher Bum BBQ)
Sat., May 4 at 3 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (Derby Day)
Sun., May 5 at 1 p.m. » Indiana at Illinois (GOAT Day)
