CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team won 15-8 over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field. Illinois won three out of four in the season series against Michigan State.
The Illini had 15 hits today following a 16-hit performance on Friday. Ryan Hampe (4-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, R) was one of many contributors at the plate today. Hampe had an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the fifth and an RBI single in the eighth.
Kellen Sarver (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Jacob Campbell (3-for-5, RBI, R) each produced three-hit days. Sarver had a towering solo home run out to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
Saturday's game started similar to Friday night with Michigan State putting up two runs in the top of the first inning. Illinois was able to get one back in the bottom half of the frame and then take the lead for good in the second inning on a Michigan State fielding error. A four-run fifth inning and a six-run seventh inning put the game out of reach for the Spartans.
LHP Nathan Lavender (W, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) struggled in the first inning but found his command after that. Lavender was able to battle and pitch his way into the sixth inning.
Illinois (10-12) will shift to playing Purdue on Sunday afternoon. RHP Riley Gowens will get the ball for the Illini on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT.
Notes
• Illinois scored a season-high 15 runs.
• Illinois has scored at least 13 runs in back-to-back games for the first time since March 9-10, 2018 vs. Michigan State/at Furman. It is the first time they have scored 13+ runs in a conference game on consecutive days since March 27-28, 1998 vs. Michigan.
• Illinois has scored at least six runs in all of their wins. The Illini are 10-4 when scoring six runs or more in a game.
• Illinois won the season series 3-1 over Michigan State.
• Kellen Sarver has recorded three hits in consecutive games.
• Nathan Lavender leads the team with four wins.
