CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois Field saw its first action in 388 days, and it turned into quite the game. The Illini defeated Northwestern 12-8 in the first of three games this weekend.
There were career bests in all different categories for the Illini on Friday. First, the pitching staff recorded 17 strikeouts on the day. The last time the Illini struck out at least that many was in a 15-inning game on April 22, 2016 vs. Ohio State (23 SO). Sophomore SS Branden Comia had career highs of three doubles, three runs scored and matched his career high of four hits. Out of the bullpen, sophomore LHP Nathan Lavender threw a career-long 4.2 innings and struck out a career-high nine batters. Freshman 1B/DH Justin Janas drove in a career-high three RBIs and tied his career high of three hits. Finally, senior 3B Jackson Raper added an Illini career-best three RBIs.
The seventh inning was the big one for Illinois. The offense batted around and sent 11 hitters to the plate, while scoring eight runs in the process. There were three big hits in the inning. Comia started off the scoring with a two-run single. Then, Janas delivered his third RBI single of the game before Raper capped it off with a three-run blast off the scoreboard. Sophomore Cam McDonald also connected on his first home run of the season in the fourth inning.
In each of the first two innings, the Illini scored a run to build an early 2-0 lead. That lead would not hold for long as Northwestern (7-5) got to Illinois RHP Andrew Hoffmann in the fourth inning scoring five runs. Hoffmann (3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 SO) was pulled in favor of Lavender who had a great day after settling in on the mound. Lavender (4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO) retired the final 13 batters he faced.
Illinois (7-6) will play game two of the series tomorrow against Northwestern at 1 p.m. CT. Sophomore RHP Ty Rybarczyk will get the ball for the Illini.
