LINCOLN, Neb. -- Fighting Illini baseball (11-9) snapped a brief two-game losing skid with a 10-7 victory over Nebraska (13-8-1) on Sunday at Haymarket Park in the series finale.
The win was No. 518 in head coach Dan Hartleb's Illinois career, putting him just one win away from passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history.
It was the Illini's turn in this game to score in the opening frame, doing so three times, thanks to home runs from Branden Comia and Ryan Moerman, solo and two-run blasts, respectively.
Comia's solo effort extended his on-base streak to 60 games, making him just the second player in program history to reach that mark. He is just three games away from matching Cam McDonald's program record of 63, which was set last season.
The Cornhuskers would load the bases in the bottom half, but Jack Wenninger induced what would be the first of three double-plays turned by the Illini in the contest, to get out of the inning unscathed.
Illinois again put up a three-spot in the second, with Brody Harding scoring on a wild pitch and McDonald bringing in a pair of runs with a two-out single.
Nebraska would cut into the lead in the third, scoring twice in the second and later adding another run in the third to make it 6-3. Coltin Quagliano would grab one of those runs back when he singled home McDonald with two outs in the fifth, making it 7-3.
The Orange and Blue broke the game wide open in the sixth, tagging the Cornhuskers for three runs in the frame to make it a 10-3 ballgame. Harding began the scoring by racing home on a passed ball and McDonald would collect his third RBI of the game by doubling home Comia. Camden Janik capped the inning with a two-out RBI-single of his own to score McDonald.
The 10 runs were more than enough for Wenninger, who turned in his first quality start of the season. The Cary, Ill., native, allowed three runs, two earned, over 6.0 innings of work, scattering five hits to go along with six strikeouts and two walks. Wenninger earned his team-leading third win of the season.
Nebraska would not go quietly, scoring twice in the seventh and loading the bases, but TJ Constertina entered in relief and left the bases loaded to prevent any further damage. Constertina would finish the next 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits to go along with three strikeouts, to earn his third save of the season.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Tuesday, where they will take on the Missouri Tigers in the Braggin' Rights Game at GSC Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» Head coach Dan Hartleb picked up career win 518 and is just one win away from passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history.
» Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 60 games after going 1-for-4 with two runs, a home run and a walk.
» He is just three games away from matching Cam McDonald's program record of 63 games, which was set last season.
» Comia batted a team-high .455 (5-for-11) in the series against Nebraska...also added three runs, two home runs and four RBI.
» Brody Harding went 3-for-5 with two runs and a double.
» Leads the team with two three-hit games this season.
» Went 4-for-9 in the series with three runs and a double.
» Cam McDonald went 2-for-4 with two runs, a double, three RBI and a walk.
» Finished the series with back-to-back two-hit games after being held hitless in the opener.
» All three of his RBI came with two outs.
» Ryan Moerman picked up his team-leading 21st RBI with his two-run home run in the first.
» Was his first home run since March 11 at Coastal Carolina.
» Coltin Quagliano went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
» Batted .500 (4-for-8) in the series, scoring twice and adding one RBI.
» Danny Doligale went 1-for-5 with a run in his first game of the series.
» Jack Wenninger earned his third win of the season with his first quality start of the season.
» 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR, 1 HBP
» Got Nebraska to roll into three double-plays in the game.
» Has at least six strikeouts in three of his five starts this season.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely in the win.
» Four Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Cornhuskers at a 14-12 clip.
» Illinois went 4-for-11 (.364) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers limited Nebraska to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 42 Nebraska hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 10.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
