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University of Illinois Athletics

Comia HR Penn State
18
Winner Illinois ILL 29-20, 15-7 Big Ten
7
Penn State PSU 25-25, 11-11 Big Ten
Winner
Illinois ILL
29-20, 15-7 Big Ten
18
Final
7
Penn State PSU
25-25, 11-11 Big Ten
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Illinois ILL 1 6 4 0 0 0 3 0 4 18 18 1
Penn State PSU 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 7 11 2

W: Rybarczyk, Ty (3-1) L: Henline, Jaden (2-3) S: Vera, Alex (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Illini Bats Erupt for 18 Runs in Dominant Series-Opening Win at Penn State

Recap

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Illinois scored 18 runs on 18 hits to take the series opener at Penn State on Thursday evening, 18-7. The Illini improve to 29-20 overall on the season and 15-7 in the Big Ten with the win.

Branden Comia paced the Illini at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a career-high five RBI, three extra base hits and finishing the game a triple shy of the cycle. Four other Illini also had multi-hit games.

Illinois jumped out to a quick start, tallying five hits in their first eight at bats and seven runs in the first two innings. Branden Comia broke the game open with an opposite-field home run in the second inning, a three-run shot for his seventh of the season. The Illini added another four runs in the third inning to take an early 11-0 lead over Penn State (25-25, 11-11 B1G).

The Nittany Lions plated five runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to pull within four before the Illini tallied another seven runs in the final three frames. Illinois' 18 runs is tied for the second-highest scoring output this season.

Ty Rybarczyk is credited with the win and improves to 3-1 on the season while Penn State's Jaden Henline is now 2-3 after taking the loss. Alex Vera earns his second save of the season after throwing the final three innings of the ballgame, going scoreless while allowing just two hits and striking out three.

Illinois is back at Medlar Field tomorrow evening to take on Penn State in the second game of the series beginning at 5 p.m. CT.

NOTES

• Cam McDonald has reached base in every game this season (60 games). He set the Illinois on-base streak record against Nebraska on May 14, reaching base in his 58th consecutive game .
• Branden Comia finished a triple shy of the cycle. He had three extra base hits and a career-high five RBI.
• Illinois scored 18 runs, tied for their second-highest scoring output this season.
• Illinois recorded their 10th hit and 10th run of the game in just the third inning. This marks the 30th game this season in which the Illini have recorded 10 or more hits.
• Illinois is now 15-7 in the B1G and 29-20 overall.
• Illinois batted around in the order in both the second and third innings.

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