WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ty Rybarczyk threw five shutout innings but Seton Hall tagged Illinois for nine runs in the last two innings to come back and beat the Illini, 10-2, at David F. Couch Ballpark. Illinois has split its first two games of the opening weekend ahead of Sunday's matchup with No. 18 Wake Forest.Â
"I thought Ty (Rybarczyk) did a great job," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "He was the highlight of the day. He pounded the bottom of the zone."
Rybarczyk retired the final 10 batters he faced while cruising to five innings. He allowed only two infield singles and one walk, while striking out five.Â
Illinois (1-1) held a 2-0 lead to the sixth and a 2-1 lead to the eighth before Seton Hall broke the game open. Reliver Ryan Kutt was within a strike of getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning, before Connor Hood delivered a go-ahead, bases-clearing double. Alex Clyde followed with a homer and Illinois went from a lead to trailing by four runs in three pitches.Â
Seton Hall (1-1) was 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position while Illinois was 1-for-11. The Illini went only 2-for-18 with runners on.
"We had multiple opportunities to score runs and something we didn't do yesterday or today was hitting with runners in scoring position," said Hartleb. "We need to improve there."
Illinois held its 2-0 lead after Kellen Sarver had an RBI groundout in the first and Brody Harding had his first career hit and RBI in the second inning. Branden Comia and Nathan Aide led the offense with two hits apiece.Â
Aidan Maldonado is scheduled to start Sunday against No. 18 Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons beat Seton Hall on a walk-off homer Friday and play Milwaukee in a doubleheader Saturday.Â
