IOWA CITY, Iowa — LHP Nathan Lavender dominated on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 1,165 people at Duane Banks Field. Lavender had a career-high 13 strikeouts in Illinois' 14-1 victory.
Lavender (W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 13 SO) struck out the side in the first, third and fifth innings. He earned his team-best sixth win of the season and is now tied for the second-most victories in the Big Ten.
The Illinois offense regained its form on Saturday by scoring 14 runs. A combination of quality at-bats and a few timely hits were the key for Illini.
The third and seventh innings were when the offense did most of its damage. In the third inning, the Illini put up six runs and sent 12 batters to the plate. An RBI single from both Jackson Raper (2-for-5, 2B, RBI, R) and Nathan Aide (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R), along with a 2-run single from Jacob Campbell (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R) were the big hits in the inning.
In the seventh inning, the Illini scored five runs on only two hits. One of those hits was an RBI double by Kellen Sarver (2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R). A couple of walks, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly were the other runs in the inning.
Following Lavender's six innings of work, the Illini called on RHP Ryan Kutt (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO). Kutt got his second save of the season for throwing three innings of work. Iowa (22-15) was only able to get three hits on the day.
Illinois (17-19) will face Iowa in the rubber match tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. CT. The Illini will send RHP Riley Gowens to the mound.
Notes
• Illinois played in front of a sellout crowd of 1,165 people, the largest fan attendance for a game this season.
• Illinois had a season-high 13 walks. It was the most by the Illini in a game since March 11, 2016 vs. UNC Greensboro (15 BB) in Conway, S.C.
• Illinois struck out 16 Iowa hitters, a season high on the road. It was the most in a road game since April 23, 2019 at Bradley (16 SO, 10 inn.).
• Illinois has scored at least six runs in 14 of their 17 wins. The Illini are 14-6 when scoring six runs or more in a game this season.
• Illinois has six saves over their last 15 games after zero saves in their first 21 games.
• Nathan Lavender had a career-high 13 strikeouts. The last Illinois pitcher to have at least 13 strikeouts was Cody Sedlock on April 22, 2016 vs. Ohio State (14 SO). It was the most strikeouts by an Illini pitcher on the road since at least the 2004 season.
• Lavender has a team-high six wins and is tied for the second-most wins in the conference.
• Lavender surpassed 100 career strikeouts with his 10th of the day
• Justin Janas has reached base safely in a career-high 18 games.
