KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Illinois baseball (5-9) battled throughout in today's series finale at No. 8 Tennessee (16-1), but ultimately fell 8-3 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Jake Swartz took no-decision in the start for the Illini, allowing just two runs on three hits over 5.0 innings, striking out two.
Ryan Moerman went deep for the third time this season in the second while Camden Janik went 2-for-4 with a run and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini got on the board first when Moerman drilled a solo shot to center with two outs in the second, giving Illinois the 1-0 lead.
The Orange and Blue struck for two more in the third, with Cal Hejza scoring on a sacrifice fly from Coltin Quagliano and Janik scoring on a two-out double from Drake Westcott.
Tennessee got back in the contest with a pair of solo homers in the fifth to make it 3-2 before bringing the game level at 3-3 with a run in the sixth.
The Volunteers broke the game wide open with a five-run seventh and would eventually hand the Illini the 8-3 defeat.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Terre Haute, Ind., to face Indiana State in midweek action on Tuesday. First pitch from Bob Warn Field is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Camden Janik went 2-for-4 with a run and a walk.
» Ryan Moerman went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and RBI.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Asher Bradd went 1-for-4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to four games.
» Has gone 5-for-15 (.333) during that span.
» Brody Harding went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games.
» Has gone 9-for-20 (.450) during that span.
» Coltin Quagliano picked up his team-leading 16th RBI of the season.
» Ranks fifth among Big Ten batters.
» Has collected at least one RBI in nine of his last 12.
» Every Fighting Illini starter reached base safely in the loss.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Volunteers at an 8-6 clip.
» Illinois out-hit Tennessee in two of three games in the series...have out-hit Top 10 opponents in three of four games this season...are 0-3 in such contests.
» Illinois pitchers faced 37 Tennessee hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out four.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Tennessee pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
