COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fighting Illini baseball (19-21, 8-10) dropped their series against Ohio State (21-21, 5-13) after a 15-9 defeat at Bill Davis Stadium on Sunday.
Illinois played long ball again in the first inning, with Cam McDonald going deep with a two-run shot to left, bringing home Branden Comia, who doubled to lead off the ballgame. The Buckeyes would respond with three runs of their own their first time up to take a 3-2 lead after one.
The Illini would jump back in front in the second, scoring three times to take a 5-3 lead. Brody Harding delivered an RBI-single to tie the game and Camden Janik was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Illinois the lead. McDonald would follow with a bases-loaded to walk for his third RBI of the game, pushing the lead to two.
Ohio State would push one run across in both the second and third innings to tie the game, but broke the contest wide open by scoring five times on six hits in the fourth to take a 10-5 lead. The hosts would add three more in the sixth and one more in the seventh to make it a 14-5 game.
Illinois mounted a late rally in the eighth, scoring four times in the frame to make it 14-9. McDonald collected his fourth RBI of the game with a single and Ryan Moerman picked up an RBI of his own two batters later. Jacob Schroeder then doubled in a pair of runs with one out, but the Illini were unable to keep the line moving in the inning. The Buckeyes would add their final run of the game in their half of the eighth.
Comia would double with one out in the ninth to pick up his fourth hit of the ballgame, but Illinois was unable to push any runs across in the inning.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Tuesday, where they will take on Indiana State at Sycamore Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Cam McDonald went 2-for-5 with two runs, a home run, four RBI and a walk.
    » Is two hits away from being tied for 10th in hits in program history.
    » Collected a season-high four RBI.
    » Went 4-for-12 (.333) with four runs, a double, a home run, four RBI and three walks...reached base at a .467 clip in the series...slugged .667.
» Branden Comia went 4-for-5 with two runs and two doubles.
    » First four-hit game of the season.
    » First two-double game of the season.
    » Snapped an 0-for-10 streak today.
» Jacob Schroeder went 2-for-4 with a run, double, two RBI and was hit by a pitch.
    » Went 4-for-11 in the series with a run, two double, two RBI and was hit by a pitch twice.
» Brody Harding went 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, a walk and was hit by a pitch.
    » Reached base safely in his first four plate appearances.
» Every Fighting Illini starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Four Illinois hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Illinois left 12 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Illinois pitchers faced 44 Ohio State hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Ohio State pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
