CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (16-18, 5-8) opened up their three-game weekend series against Minnesota (10-25, 4-6) with a 9-3 victory at Illinois Field on Friday.
Illinois would get off to slow start offensively, managing just two hits in the first three innings, but Riley Gowens was dominant on the mound through 4.0 innings, limiting the Golden Gophers to just two hits to go along with five strikeouts.
In the home half of the fourth, Illini bats would break out in a big way. Ryan Moerman led off the frame with a walk and scored on a two-run blast from Jacob Schroeder. Branden Comia then followed with a walk of his own and was along for the ride when Coltin Quagliano hit his second home run of the year, quickly making it 4-0.
Gowens continued his stellar start by striking out the side in the fifth, setting up another big inning for the Illini. Drake Westcott earned a free pass and Moerman would put runners on second and third with a double. Schroeder again delivered at the plate, lacing a double of his own to make it 6-0. Comia would launch an opposite field shot the very next batter, the third home run of the game, making it an 8-0 ballgame.
Minnesota would push a run across in the seventh, but Illinois would grab the run back after the stretch when Comia walked with the bases loaded to pick up his third RBI of the game.
The visitors scored two more in the ninth to make it 9-3, but John Lundgren was able to close out the game to give the Orange and Blue the victory.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action for game two of this three-game set tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Jacob Schroeder went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs, a double, home run, four RBI and a walk.
    » Was his 10th home run of the season in just 76 at-bats...tied for the team lead (Westcott).
    » Has four multi-RBI games in his last six...has 30 RBI in 23 games/22 starts...tied for the team lead (Moerman).
» Ryan Moerman went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, a double and a walk.
    » Was his team-leading fourth three-hit game of the season.
» Branden Comia went 1-for-2 with two runs, a home run, three RBI and a pair of walks.
    » Has hits in 10 of his last 11 games...has hit safely in four-straight.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks.
    » Has drawn a walk in five of his last six games...tied for the team lead with 25 walks this season (Doligale).
» Coltin Quagliano went 1-for-3 with a run, home run, two RBI and was hit by a pitch.
    » First-career home run at Illinois Field...second of the season overall.
    » Has hit safely in eight of his 10 starts this season.
» Riley Gowens earned his second win of the season in his third quality start of the campaign.
    » 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
    » Second quality start in his last three outings.
    » Has worked into the seventh in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
» The Illini earned their first series opening win of a Big Ten series this season.
» Illinois hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Golden Gophers at a 10-7 clip.
» Illinois pitchers limited Minnesota to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 36 Minnesota hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Fighting Illini drew eight walks from Minnesota pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
