KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --Â Illinois baseball (5-7) dropped its series opener to No. 8 Tennessee (14-1), 6-3, tonight at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Camden Janik led the way at the dish, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Cal Hejza and Brody Harding each had two-hit games, combining for three runs scored.
Jack Crowder suffered the loss in the start, allowing five runs over 5.0 innings, picking up five strikeouts. His fifth punchout of the contest in the fourth inning gave him 100 for his career.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fighting Illini jumped out to an early 1-0 lead their first time up to bat when Hejza and Janik had back-to-back one-out doubles.
The Volunteers responded with three runs in the home half of the first and then added runs in the second, sixth and eighth, taking a 6-1 lead.
Illinois hit back for two runs in the ninth on a Janik RBI-single and a Coltin Quagliano RBI-groundout, but it was not enough and the Illini ultimately fell 6-3.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue continue their three-game series against No. 8 Tennessee tomorrow, with first pitch from Lindsey Nelson Stadium slated for 12 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Camden Janik went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.
    » Extended his hitting streak to eight games...has gone 13-for-31 (.419) during that span with five doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.
» Cal Hejza went 2-for-4 with two runs, a double and a walk.
    » Has reached safely in 11-straight games and has recorded a hit in four-straight...has three multi-hit games during that span.
    » Has scored 10 runs in his last five.
» Brody Harding went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
    » Has three-straight multi-hit games...has gone 7-for-13 (.538) during that span.
» Coltin Quagliano went 1-for-5 with an RBI.
    » Leads the team with 15 RBI...ranks T-4th among Big Ten hitters...has at least one RBI in seven of his last nine games.
» Joe Glassey and Regan Hall each turned in scoreless innings of work out of the bullpen.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Volunteers at an 11-9 clip.
    » Illinois has out-hit two Top-10 teams this season...has gone 0-2 in such contests.
» Illinois pitchers faced 35 Tennessee hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Illini bullpen allowed just one run and one hit over 10 batters faced...combined for two strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
