Lead Slips From Illini in 4-2 Loss to Maryland

Friday, April 5

Champaign, Ill.

6 PM CT

University of Illinois

19-9, 0-4

Maryland

14-14, 2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Maryland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	3	1
Illinois	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	1

April 5, 2019 | Baseball

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Maryland scored four runs in the ninth inning Friday to come from behind and beat the Illinois baseball team, 4-2, at Illinois Field. Friday opened a three-game set which will be finished Saturday with a 1 p.m. CT doubleheader.

"We let one get away from us," said head coach Dan Hartleb. Illinois (19-9, 0-4 Big Ten) held a 2-0 lead from the second inning to the ninth behind an excellent outing from Andy Fisher.

Fisher was tossing a one-hitter through eight innings before Maryland got hits on the first two pitches of the ninth. Two Terrapins' squeeze plays and a two-run-scoring wild pitch later and the Illini's 2-0 lead quickly turned to a 4-2 deficit.

Fisher finished with a career-high 8 1/3 innings, while allowing two runs on three hits and striking out nine. Garrett Acton (1-1) took the loss by allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth.

Maryland (14-14, 2-2 Big Ten) matched Fisher's outing with an eight-inning effort from Hunter Parsons. The Maryland ace scatter two hits and allowed only two runs on sac flies in the second inning.

Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT first pitch. Saturday is Moms' Day and Bark in the Park at Illinois Field.

Notes

• Illinois dropped to 18-4 when allowing six or fewer runs.
• Illinois dropped to 17-2 when leading or tied after seven innings.
• Illinois lost at home for the first time this season (8-1).
• Hitting streaks: Van Scoy 8
• Reached base streaks: Massey 13, Van Scoy 11, Yalowitz 7
• Michael Massey snapped a 12-game hitting streak.
• Opponents are 0-21 with runners in scoring position against the Illini in the last three games.
• The three lefties in Maryland's lineup were 0-9 with five strikeouts against Fisher.
• Illinois' bullpen snapped a streak of 19 straight scoreless innings.
• Illinois allowed more runs in the ninth inning against Maryland (4) than the Illini had allowed in the ninth in the first 27 games of the season (3).
• Zac Taylor pinch hit in the ninth, his first appearance in 15 games due to an injury.
• Saturday is a doubleheader due to forecasted rain and thunderstorms on Sunday.