EVANSTON, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (12-14, 2-5) was walked off by Northwestern (4-20, 2-2), 4-3, in Friday's series opener at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.
The Illini took a 3-1 lead into the ninth and got the Wildcats down to their final out, but the hosts won the contest on a bases-loaded two-run single.
Northwestern took a 1-0 in the first but Illinois took the lead in the fourth when Brody Harding brought in a pair of runs with a double.
After allowing one run on two hits in the first inning, Illini starter Riley Gowens was untouchable over the final 5.0 frames of his outing, yielding two hits and striking out eight batters to earn his second quality start of the season.
Drake Westcott added to the lead in the seventh with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-1, but that's all the offense Illinois was able to generate in the game.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» Riley Gowens turned in his second quality start of the season and his first since March 17 vs. Southern Illinois.
    » Fanned 10 batters...struck out the side in both the fourth and sixth innings.
    » Third time this season whiffing double-digit batters.
        » Second 10 strikeout, no walk performance of the season.
    » 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
» Brody Harding went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a walk.
    » Has six RBI in his last three games.
    » Has drawn a walk in three-straight games.
» Cam McDonald went 2-for-5.
    » Lone Illini batter to have a multi-hit performance in the game.
    » Extends his hitting streak to five games.
        » Second hitting streak of at least five games this season.
» Drake Westcott's sacrifice fly in the seventh gave him his 21st RBI of the season.
» Illinois left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
    » Left runners on base in eight of nine innings.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Wildcats at an 8-6 clip.
» Illinois pitchers faced 35 Northwestern hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 13.
    » Illini pitchers have struck out 29 batters and walked just two in the last two games.
» The Fighting Illini drew six walks from Northwestern pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
