CONWAY, S.C. – Illinois dropped its first game of the day at Springs Brooks Stadium to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, 17-10. The two teams combined for 26 hits and 27 runs as 10 combined pitchers were used over the course of the nine innings.
Sophomore OF Danny Doligale was once again impressive at the plate, picking up his third consecutive multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 performance. Doligale also doubled in his third-straight game while scoring a pair of runs against the Blue Raiders. Junior INF Branden Comia tallied his second consecutive multi-hit game as well, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles at the dish. Freshman INF Ryan Moerman was the third Illini to record two hits on the afternoon.
The Illini (2-3) loaded the bases in two of the first three innings but only plated two runs. Middle Tennessee (3-5) would score six runs in two innings, holding on to a 6-4 lead until the top half of the seventh, when a two-out rally for the Illini sparked a three-run inning to retake the lead. The Blue Raiders took the lead back with an eleven-run seventh inning as the Illini went through four pitchers to record three outs. Illinois tacked on three more runs in the home half of the ninth.
Illinois will take on Coastal Carolina Saturday evening for the final game of the three-game slate in Conway, S.C.
Notes
• Illinois and MTSU combined for 27 runs and 26 hits.
• Illinois pitchers hit five MTSU batters in the game.
• The 27 runs between the two teams was the highest combined run output since the Illini lost to Northwestern, 14-16 on March 27, 2021 (28 runs).
• Danny Doligale now has three consecutive multi-hit games.
• Three Illini hitters had multi-hit games (Doligale, B. Comia, and Moerman).
• Crayton Burnett made his first collegiate start on the mound.
• Camden Janik earned his first collegiate start behind the plate.
