CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team fell in both games of their doubleheader on Saturday at Illinois Field. Maryland (21-14) took the series with both wins today.
GAME ONEÂ (Maryland 5, Illinois 3)
Illinois battled in the first game and made it interesting down the stretch. Trailing 5-1 in the ninth inning, the Illini loaded the bases. Jacob Campbell connected on a two-out, 2-run double off the wall in left field that nearly left the park. Campbell finished the game 2-for-3 with the double and two RBI.
LHP Nathan Lavender (5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) started the game and suffered the loss. Ty Rybarczyk and Payton Hutchings came out of the bullpen and combined to allow only one run over four innings of work.
The other run for the Illini came in the fourth inning on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Justin Janas.
GAME TWOÂ (Maryland 12, Illinois 4)
The Illini got out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning after a two-out rally. Jackson Raper singled, Ryan Hampe walked and then Janas came up and lined an RBI single to right-center field. The Terrapins were able to take the lead in the top of the fourth and held it for the rest of the game.
Taylor Jackson had an RBI single in the sixth inning and Ryan Hampe hit his fifth home run of the season in the seventh with a solo home run to left field. Tom Jurack would round out the scoring with an RBI groundout in the ninth.
RHP Riley Gowens (3.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 SO) was on the mound to start game two. Maryland's offense got on the board against Gowens the second time through the order.
Illinois (16-18) will travel to Iowa next weekend to face off in a three-game series.
Notes
• Justin Janas has reached base safely in a career-high 16 games.
• Ryan Hampe hit his fifth home run of the season in game two.
• Brody Harding has an eight-game on-base streak.
