CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (24-24, 12-12) claimed a 7-3 over UT Martin (21-32, 14-10) to open up the final series of the regular season.
The Skyhawks led off the game with a home run and added to their lead with another run in the fourth to make it 2-0.
The Illini got on the board with a two-spot in the bottom half of the fourth to tie the game. Cal Hejza led off with a single and Brody Harding followed with a walk. Branden Comia doubled into the left-center gap two batters later, extending his hitting streak to nine games, to bring the contest level.
UT Martin would briefly jump back into the lead with a run in the sixth, but Illinois immediately responded with two runs to take the lead back. Cam McDonald picked up his first two RBI of the game with a double down the right field line to bring home Harding and Comia, making it 4-3.
Harding would double the Illini lead in the seventh with a two-out RBI single and McDonald broke the game open in the eighth with a two-run homer to make it 7-3.
Illinois starter Jack Wenninger, who did not factor in the decision, turned in 5.0 innings of two-run ball, with Joe Glassey and TJ Constertina combining to toss 4.0 innings, allowing just one run on one hit.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action tomorrow, with first pitch from Illinois Field scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Cam McDonald went 3-for-5 with a run, double, home run and four RBI.
    » Has two games with at least three hits in his last four.
    » Now has 252 hits in his Illini career...moved up into eighth place in program history.
    » Has five RBI in his last three games.
» Branden Comia went 2-for-5 with two runs, a double and two RBI.
    » Extended his hitting streak to nine games...is batting .405 (17-for-42) with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBI during that span.
    » Has six multi-hit games during his current hitting streak.
» Brody Harding went 2-for-2 with two runs, two walks and two stolen bases.
    » Has two, two-hit games in his last three.
    » Has drawn five walks in his last five games.
» TJ Constertina turned in his second-straight scoreless outing.
    » 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
    » Has not allowed a run in his last 3.0 innings of work, spanning two games.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely in the win.
» Four Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Skyhawks at a 12-7 clip.
» Illinois pitchers limited UT Martin to just 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 35 UT Martin hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from UT Martin pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
