MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Branden Comia lasered a two-run home run 106 miles per hour over the left field fence in the fourth inning Sunday to propel the Illinois baseball team to a 2-1 win against West Virginia at TicketReturn.com Field. The Illini finished the weekend 2-1 with wins over Coastal Carolina and the Mountaineers to get to .500 on the season (3-3).
First-time starter Cole Kirschsieper (1-0) was outstanding in six innings of quick work, scattering six hits, striking out four, and only allowing a first-inning run. The lefty threw 80 pitches (59 strikes) before giving way to sophomore Aidan Maldonado, who was equally as good. Maldonado earned a three-inning save by allowing only one hit in a shutout relief effort. The two combined to throw 66.7% strikes and finish the game in 1:57.
"It was an unbelievably well-pitched game for this early in the year," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "I think Cole (Kirschsieper) has a bright future. He has great composure and continues to improve. Just a good feel and I'm really happy for him in his first start."
West Virginia's Jake Carr (1-1) was the tough-luck loser after throwing a complete game and limiting Illinois to five hits and no walks in 85 pitches. Alex Steinbach had two of the Illini's hits for the second day in a row out of the DH spot.
Illinois travels to the highly-touted Frisco Classic next weekend in Frisco, Texas, to face No. 20 Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and No. 14 UCLA in one of the top round robin tournaments in college baseball. The field has combined for over 10,000 wins, 687 MLB draft picks, 90 conference titles, 116 NCAA postseason appearances, 31 College World Series appearances, and two College World Series titles. The event is hosted at the Frisco Roughriders' Dr. Pepper Ballpark.
Notes
• Cole Kirschsieper started for the first time.
• Illinois has three wins and three saves.
• Aidan Maldonado had his first career save.
• Taylor Jackson extended his hitting streak to six games.
• Branden Comia is slashing .412/.583/.588 through six games.
• Illinois is 9-3 all-time against West Virginia.
• Illinois is 5-6 all-time at TicketReturn.com Field.
• Illinois is 1-0 when the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' bat dog Slider serves as Illinois' bat dog.
