BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Illinois baseball team dropped the series opener to Indiana on Friday, 6-4. The game was interrupted by a 1-hour, 48-minute lightning delay in the top of the eighth inning.
The score was tied 4-4 at the time play was suspended with the final at-bat being a game-tying, solo home run from Jackson Raper. He finished the day 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
Indiana (12-7) scored all six of their runs from four home runs, including a walk-off, 2-run homer by Collin Hopkins in the bottom of the ninth off Ryan Kutt (0-3).
LHP Nathan Lavender (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 7 SO) received his second consecutive Friday start. Ty Rybarczyk threw a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
The Illini trailed 1-0 entering the fifth inning when they put up a three-run frame. Taylor Jackson led off the inning with a single before the next two batters struck out. With two outs, Illinois strung together four consecutive hits. Justin Janas delivered a game-tying, RBI triple, Cam McDonald hit a go-ahead RBI single, Jacob Campbell had a double down the left field line, and Raper ended the rally with an RBI single. Janas finished the game with three hits.
That lead was quickly lost after a 2-run homer in bottom of the fifth and a solo shot in the sixth by Indiana.
Illinois (8-11) will send RHP Riley Gowens to the mound tomorrow looking to even up the series.
Notes
• Branden Comia extended his career-best on-base streak to 37 games dating back to May 18, 2019 at Michigan State.
• Comia extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest of his career. He is hitting .531/.574/.796 (26-for-49), with seven doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored over those 12 games.
• Jackson Raper has hit six home runs in his last seven games, including one in each of his last three games.
• Raper's four hits were his most since joining the Illini.
• Cam McDonald extended his hitting streak to eight games. He is hitting .448/.529/.655 (13-for-29), with three doubles, a home run, nine RBIs, eight runs and five walks over that stretch.
• Nathan Lavender threw a career-high 6.0 innings.
• Ryan Hampe snapped his hitting streak at seven games.
