CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (18-18, 7-8) completed a series sweep of Minnesota (10-27, 4-8) with a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory at Illinois Field on Sunday.
In a ballgame all knotted up a 3-3 heading into the top of the ninth, the Golden Gophers stunned the Illini with a pair of runs to take a 5-3 lead heading into the home half of the frame. Illinois was down to their final out quickly after a pair of flyouts to start the inning before an incredible sequence of events turned the game on its head.
Drake Westcott, after working himself into a favorable 2-1 count, drove a pitch to deep center and appeared to be robbed of a home run, but as Minnesota's centerfielder made contact with wall, the ball was jarred lose and carried over the fence for a home run to make it 5-4.
Ryan Moerman then came up and hit a high chopper to third but was able to narrowly beat the throw for an infield single to extend the game. Jacob Schroeder stepped up to the plate as the winning run and smoked the first pitch that he saw over the wall in center for a two-run walk-off home run, his second home run of the day, giving the Illini the 6-5 victory.
The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth, but the Illini got the run back in the home half of the frame when Cam McDonald crushed a home run to left with two outs to make it 2-1.
Illinois would tie the game up in the fifth when Schroeder scored on an error, but the visitors took the lead back in the seventh when they were able to scratch a run across.
Schroeder provided heroics for the first time in the ballgame in the bottom of the seventh, when he drove a home run down the left field line with two outs to tie the game at 3-3.
Jack Wenninger turned in his third quality start of the season, working 6.0+ innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Wenninger tallied seven strikeouts compared to two walks.
Joe Glassey didn't allow an earned run in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, scattering four hits and adding two punchouts.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Tuesday, making the short trip to Peoria, Ill., to take on Bradley. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Jacob Schroeder went 2-for-3 with three runs, two home runs and three RBI.
    » Second game this season going yard twice.
    » First walk-off hit of his Illini career...first Illini with a walk-off hit since Justin Janas on May 15, 2022, vs. Nebraska.
    » Went 4-for-9 in the series with five runs, a double, three home runs, seven RBI, two walks and was hit by a pitch...reached base at a .583 clip and slugged 1.556.
    » Leads the team with 12 home runs in just 82 at-bats...also leads the team with 33 RBI.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and RBI.
    » Extended his hitting streak to five games...has gone 6-for-16 (.375) during that span with two home runs and three RBI.
    » Ranks second on the team with 31 RBI...also ranks second on the team with 11 home runs.
» Cam McDonald went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and RBI.
    » Was his first home run since March 31 vs. Michigan.
» Ryan Moerman went 2-for-4 with a run.
    » Was lone Illini batter with two hits in the game.
   » Had multi-hit games in two of three against Minnesota...led the team with a .545 (6-for-11) average in the series to go along with four runs and a walk.
» Jack Wenninger did not factor in the decision but tossed his quality start of the season.
    » 6.0+ IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
    » Struck out the side in the third, all via looking...whiffed four-straight batters at one point in his outing.
    » Retired the first-10 batters that he faced to begin his start.
» First walk-off win of the season for the Illini.
» First series sweep of the season for Illinois.
» The Illini have matched their season-long winning streak.
» Illinois hitters hit four dingers in the ballgame...all came with two outs.
» Illinois pitchers faced 39 Minnesota hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out 10.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
