UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Illinois took down Penn State in the tenth inning to clinch the series win on Friday night at Medlar Field, 7-3. Tied at three in the tenth inning, Cam McDonald drove in two runs on a double to the left-center gap to put Illinois on top before two more runs in the inning secured a 7-3 win and the sixth Big Ten series win this season for the Illini. Illinois is now 30-20 overall and 16-7 in the Big Ten.
The Illini jumped on the board early for the second time this series, taking a one-run lead in the second inning before Penn State (25-26, 11-12 B1G) responded with one in the bottom half. Illinois scored two more on back-to-back two-out errors by the Nittany Lions in the top of the fifth, giving the Illini a 3-2 edge.
The two teams went to extra innings after Penn State tied the game at three in the bottom of the eighth. Cam McDonald picked up the game-winning hit with a two-RBI double in the top of the tenth inning to give Illinois the lead. McDonald came around to score on a wild pitch and Brody Harding capped off the four-run tenth inning with a solo home run to right field, his second of the season.
Riley Gowens started on the mound for the Illini, going 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits while racking up seven strikeouts. Tommy Green earns the win with a solid relief appearance and moves to 3-2 on the season while Penn State's Shingledecker (6-3) takes the loss.
The Illini and Nittany Lions will square off in the final game of the series tomorrow morning beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
NOTES
• Cam McDonald has reached base in every game this season (61 consecutive games dating back to 5/8/21). He set the Illinois on-base streak record against Nebraska on May 14, reaching base in his 58th consecutive game.
• Danny Doligale had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game.
• Illinois picked up its 30th win of the season. The Illini are now 16-7 in the B1G and 30-20 overall.
• Illinois clinched the series win with tonight's win. The Illini won six of eight Big Ten series this season.
