CONWAY, S.C. -- Fighting Illini baseball (6-5) fell 16-8 to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-4) in Friday's series opener.
Illinois took an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Chanticleers scored 10 runs in their half of the frame, only two of which were earned, to take a 15-8 lead before adding one more run in the eighth.
The Illini jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second, when Cal Hejza doubled home a pair of runs and Cam McDonald followed two batters later with a two-home run. The Chanticleers halved the lead by scoring two runs in bottom of the inning and then added one run in both the third and fourth innings to make it a 4-4 game heading into fifth.
After Coastal rallied to tie the ballgame at four, Illinois retook the lead with its second four-run inning of the ballgame. Four of the first five batters drew walks, with Ryan Moerman bringing across a run with his free pass to take back the lead. Christian Smith followed with a two-run single and Jacob Schroeder added a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.
Illini starter Riley Gowens, who did not factor in the decision, worked 5.0 innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits to go along with six strikeouts and one walk.
Illinois is back in action tomorrow for game two of this three-game set, with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Fighting Illini pitchers combined to strike out 12 Coastal Carolina hitters.
» Illinois went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» The Fighting Illini drew seven walks from Coastal Carolina pitching.
» Branden Comia went 0-for-2 with a walk, extending his on-base streak to 51 games.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-2 with one run and a pair of walks.
» Westcott extended his hitting streak to seven games (8-for-28) and has three home runs, nine RBI and eight walks during that span.
» Westcott has drawn a walk in seven-straight games...ranks second on the team with 10 walks on the season.
» Cam McDonald went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and two RBI.
» Tied for the team lead with three home runs on the season.
» Ranks second on the team with 12 RBI.
» Christian Smith went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Four of his six hits this season have gone for extra bases.
» Picked up the first two RBI of his collegiate career.
» Ryan Moerman picked up his second outfield assist of the season, throwing out a runner at third from right field.
» Has recorded one assist at each corner outfield spot this season.
» Only Illini with an outfield assist this season.
» Illini pitchers hit eight batters in the game.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
