WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Illinois baseball team picked up a 6-5 victory on Friday evening at Alexander Field. A ninth inning rally by Purdue (10-16) made the game close down the stretch.
Strong pitching performances from RHP Andrew Hoffmann (W, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) and LHP Cole Kirschsieper (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO) kept the Boilermakers scoreless and off balance through the first eight innings of the game.
The Illini offense got started in the second inning when Kellen Sarver crushed a solo home run that cleared the right field bullpen. In the fourth, two more would come around to score giving Illinois a 3-0 lead.
An RBI double into the right field corner from Jackson Raper and a bases-loaded hit by pitch with Justin Janas batting extended the lead to 5-0 after seven innings. Then, in the ninth, Kellen Sarver hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-0.
The Boilermakers made it interesting in the ninth by scoring five runs, including three home runs. The Illini were able to close out it out though maintaining a one-run advantage.
Illinois (11-14) will play game two of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT. LHP Nathan Lavender will go to the hill for the Illini.
Notes
• Illinois won their first game ever at Alexander Field and it was their first win in West Lafayette since May 15, 2011.
• Illinois has scored at least six runs in all of their wins. The Illini are 11-5 when scoring six runs or more in a game.
• Nathan Aide produced a career-high four hits.
• Andrew Hoffmann earned his first win since joining the Illini after throwing six scoreless innings. He allowed only one hit and struck out four while walking one.
• Five of six outs recorded by Cole Kirschsieper were via strikeout.
• Ryan Kutt earned his first career save.
