EVANSTON, Ill. — Gusty winds blowing out to left field made for an interesting day at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park on Saturday. The teams combined for nine home runs in the two games and struggled at times to track down balls hit in the air.
GAME ONE
Illinois took the first game on Saturday by a score of 5-4 in seven innings. The game stayed close throughout and the Illini were ultimately able to come up with the win.
The five runs on the day came courtesy of four long balls by the Illini. Ryan Hampe, Kellen Sarver and Cam McDonald all hit solo home runs, while Jackson Raper added a 2-run homer. Both Raper and McDonald's were go-ahead home runs, with McDonald's sixth inning shot turning into the eventual game-winner.
RHP Andrew Hoffmann (5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) started the game and struggled in the first inning giving up two runs before settling in. Hoffmann would allow a solo home run in the fifth inning to Christian Molfetta and an unearned run scored in the sixth inning after he departed the game.
LHP Cole Kirschsieper (W, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) came on in the late innings once again to shut the door. He extended his scoreless streak to 10.2 innings.
GAME TWO
The second game got off to a good start for the Illini with a first inning RBI single from Justin Janas to give the Illini a 1-0 lead.
That would be the only lead for Illinois in the second contest though. No. 22 Michigan (20-10) went on to score 11 unanswered runs over the next four innings to make the score 11-1 midway through the fifth.
The Illini offense tried to battle and keep the game in reach with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. That would not be enough as Michigan scored seven more runs to Illinois' two runs over the final four innings. The game finished with a final score of 18-8 in the Wolverines favor.
Five pitchers threw for Illinois in game two. LHP Nathan Lavender (3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) did not have his best outing and suffered his first loss of the season.
Illinois (14-15) will play another doubleheader against Michigan tomorrow beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT. RHP Riley Gowens will go to the mound in game one.
Notes
• Illinois has hit 23 home runs in its last 17 games after only four home runs in its first 12 games.
• Cole Kirschsieper has a scoreless streak of 10.2 IP.
• Jackson Raper's 8 HR on the season lead the team.
• Raper has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games.
• Cam McDonald has three home runs this season after having one home run in his first two seasons combined. Two of his three home runs this season have come in the last two innings of the game (April 18 vs. Purdue).
• Kellen Sarver has at least one RBI in eight of his last nine games.
• Justin Janas has an on-base streak of 11 games.
• Nathan Lavender (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
