HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Fighting Illini baseball (6-4) fell to Sam Houston (6-7) in today's series finale, 10-6.
Illinois clinched the series victory yesterday and have won their first-two three-game series to start the season.
The Illini got on the board first when Brody Harding doubled home Ryan Moerman in the second with two outs, but the Bearkats responded with three runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
Harding cut the lead to one with a two-out single in the fourth to collect his second RBI of the game. Drake Westcott gave Illinois the lead in the fifth with a three-run blast, his second-straight game with a home run, to make it 5-3.
Sam Houston got one of those runs back in the sixth, but Illinois responded with one of their own in the seventh, thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by Coltin Quagliano, making it a 6-4 ballgame.
But the hosts would erupt in their half of the seventh, scoring six times on four hits to make it 10-6.
The Illini were unable to push any runs across in the final two frames of the contest.
Illinois will be back in action on Friday, where they will begin a three-game set against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. First pitch of the series opener is slated for 3:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Branden Comia extended his on-base streak to 50 games after going 1-for-4 with a run and a walk.
» Camden Janik went 1-for-3 with a run and two walks, which extended his career-long hitting streak to 10 games.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with a run, home run, three RBI and a walk.
    » Westcott extended his hitting streak to six games (7-for-26) and has three home runs, nine RBI and six walks during that span.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Bearkats at an 9-8 clip.
