EVANSTON, Ill. — Sunday was a tale of two games at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park. In the first matchup, Jackson Raper (4-for-5, 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 2 R) hit for the cycle.
GAME ONE
Illinois came out on top in the first game on Sunday with a final score of 13-7 in seven innings. The four innings that the Illini scored in were all multi-run innings.
Raper led the way for the Illini offense with his cycle and seven RBI. In the first inning, Raper connected on a 2-run homer to give Illinois the early lead. Then, he hit a 2-run single in the fourth inning. Next, Raper lined an RBI triple to the gap in right-center field. He would complete the cycle with a 2-run double in the seventh inning. He is the first Illinois batter to hit for the cycle since Justin Parr vs. Purdue on April 14, 2013.
With the score tied 5-4 entering the fifth inning, the Illini were able to score five runs, all coming with two outs. A sacrifice fly by Kellen Sarver, a 2-run triple by Taylor Jackson (2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 R), Raper's RBI triple and an RBI single from Branden Comia (2-for-4, 2 RBI) were the reason for the five runs crossing the plate.
Michigan (20-11) would score three in the bottom of the sixth, but the Illini responded with three of their own in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
RHP Riley Gowens (3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 SO) was not as sharp as a week ago when he threw seven hitless innings. Gowens gave up four solo home runs in the game and worked with runners on base a majority of the day.
LHP Cole Kirschsieper (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) came on for a second straight day to lock it down late. He extended his scoreless streak to 11.2 innings.
GAME TWO
Similar to the second game on Saturday, the Illini got an early lead in the first inning. Justin Janas and Sarver each had RBI singles to put the Illini ahead 2-0.
The lead did not last for long as Michigan (21-11) put up seven runs in the bottom of the first, including a grand slam off the bat of Ted Burton. The Wolverines had 10 unanswered runs after four innings and continued attacking all game. The game concluded with a final score of 19-4 after seven innings.
Sarver (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R) hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. The home run was his fourth of the season, matching his 2019 total.
RHP Grant Leader (1.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) started the contest. Illini pitchers struggled in game two with it being the fourth game in two days.
Illinois (15-16) will return home next weekend to face Maryland in a three-game series at Illinois Field. Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, Saturday is set for 4 p.m. CT and Sunday will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Notes
• Eight of Illinois' 13 runs in game one came with two outs.
• Illinois has hit 25 home runs in its last 19 games after only four home runs in their its 12 games.
• Illinois split the season series 3-3 with Michigan.
• Jackson Raper is only the fourth Illinois batter in the last 32 seasons (since 1990) to hit for the cycle. He is the first since Justin Parr vs. Purdue on April 14, 2013 (4-for-5, double, home run, single and triple). The others were Brandon Wikoff vs. Bradley on April 7, 2009 (4-for-5, single, home run, double, triple) and Sean Mulligan vs. Michigan on February 25, 1990 (5-for-6, single, two doubles, triple, home run).
• Raper had a career-high 7 RBI. He is the first Illinois player to have 7 RBI in a game since Bren Spillane had 8 RBI on March 21, 2018.
• Cole Kirschsieper has a scoreless streak of 11.2 IP.
• Kellen Sarver has four home runs this season matching his total from the 2019 season.
• Kellen Sarver has at least one RBI in eight consecutive games and in 10 of his last 11 games.
• Justin Janas has reached base safely in each of his last 13 games.
