IOWA CITY, Iowa —  Illinois won the series finale at Iowa on Sunday afternoon, 9-5. The Illini scored nine runs on nine hits to take the final game of the series and improve to 7-2 in the conference, the best start to Big Ten play since 2015. Riley Gowens earned the start for the Illini, limiting Iowa to just two runs on five hits while striking out seven in six innings pitched.
 Jacob Campbell led the way at the plate for the Illini, tallying a game-high three RBI while notching two hits. Brody Harding also recorded two hits while scoring two runs and knocking in one.
Iowa (16-12, 3-3) scored first on solo home runs in the second and third innings before Illinois (15-14, 7-2) responded with three runs in the sixth inning. Brody Harding opened up the scoring for the Illini, scoring on a passed ball before Jacob Campbell ripped a two-RBI single through the left side to score Branden Comia and Danny Doligale and give the Illini a 3-2 edge over the Hawkeyes heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Senior OF Taylor Jackson added a solo home run to left field in the seventh inning, his third of the year to extend the Illinois lead to 4-2 before Iowa scored two in the seventh to knot the score at four. The Illini ultimately pulled ahead, scoring five runs in the ninth inning to pull ahead of the Hawkeyes and earn their third consecutive series win.
Illinois' Tommy Green gets the win for the Illini, improving to 1-1 on the season. Iowa's Llewellyn (1-1) is credited with the loss.
The Illini are back in action on Tuesday at Illinois Field, hosting Illinois State for the second game of the home-and-home series with the Redbirds.
NOTES
• Cam McDonald has reached base in every game this season (29-game on base streak).
• Branden Comia has hit safely in 13 consecutive games.
• Illinois has won every game this season by six or more runs.
• Illinois is 7-2 in the Big Ten conference, the best start to conference play since 2015.
• Illinois has recorded 10+ hits in 17 of 29 games this season.
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