ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Illinois baseball team lost both games of their doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium on Saturday. Game one ended 8-1 in No. 13 Michigan's advantage. The second matchup was against Michigan State and finished 11-0 in favor of Michigan State.
The offense ran into a pair of tough starting pitchers from Michigan and Michigan State. Sophomore Branden Comia had a hit in each game to extend his career-long hitting streak to 29 games. Junior Taylor Jackson, freshman Brody Harding and sophomore Ryan Hampe also each had two-hit days. Hampe drove in the lone run for the Illini with an RBI double in the fourth inning of game one.
Freshman RHP Riley Gowens (4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) and sophomore RHP Ty Rybarczyk (5.1 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) each suffered losing decisions in their third starts of the season. The Illini trailed by four runs after the first inning in both contests.
Illinois (5-6) will look to bounce back tomorrow against Michigan State in the weekend finale. The Illini will have freshman LHP Cole Kirschsieper on the mound.
