BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Illinois baseball team built a 7-3 lead by the fifth inning at Indiana, but could not hold on in an 11-7 loss. The Hoosiers clinched the weekend series, 2-1.
Jacob Campbell homered as part of a five-run third that gave Illinois its four-run lead. Campbell has homered in five straight games and hit .429 (6-14) with three homers and nine RBIs in the series. Justin Janas went 8-for-13 (.615) in the series.
Illinois (22-19, 12-6 Big Ten) scored 10.3 runs per game and hit .345 (41-119) in the series, but could not come away with the series win. The Illini have won four of six Big Ten series and sit in third place of the conference standings, three games back of league leader Rutgers (15-3).
Ty Rybarczyk gave Illinois a chance to come back by firing 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to finish the game. Rybarczyk allowed only two hits and struck out six. Jack Wenninger (1-3) took the loss after allowing four runs in the fifth and starter Riley Gowens allowed seven runs in four innings and struck out six.
Illinois returns to Illinois Field for a seven-game homestead over the next two weeks. The Illini host Indiana State (May 3), Miami (Ohio) (May 6-8), and Nebraska (May 13-15).
Notes
• The Illini averaged 10.0 runs per game during the four-game week.
• Illinois hit .345 (41-119) during the three-games series at Indiana.
• Danny Doliagle, Branden Comia, Cam McDonald, and Taylor Jackson all had two hits on Sunday.
• Cam McDonald has reached base in every game this season. He is on a 52-game on base streak dating back to 5/8/21, five away from tying Ben Troike's Illinois record of 57.
• Jacob Campbell has homered in five consecutive games. He leads the Illini with eight home runs this season.
• Jacob Campbell hit .421 (8-19) for the week with four homers, 12 RBIs, and seven runs scored.
• Justin Janas went 8-for-13 in the series against Indiana (.615).
• Illinois is now 12-6 in the B1G.
