CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball (20-13) picked up its fourth-straight win with a 21-11 blowout of Northern Illinois (11-24), in seven innings, to complete the series sweep, today at Illinois Field.
Jacob Schroeder and Drake Westcott had monster days at the plate, with the duo slugging three home runs each. They would combine to 6-for-8 in the game with seven runs, six home runs, 13 RBI and two walks to power an Illini offense that slugged a season-high eight home runs, the most in a single game since at least 2004, falling just one shy of matching the single-game program record.
Ben Plumley picked up the victory out of the bullpen. The right-hander went 1.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing no walks and striking out three. Payton Hutchings also made an impact on the mound for the Fighting Illini, throwing 1.0 scoreless frames while allowing no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois faced a 6-0 deficit before taking an at-bat in the contest, but got three of those runs back, one on a Cal Hejza RBI-single and a two-run shot from Westcott.
The Huskies pushed the lead to five with two runs in the second, but the Illini would bring the game level with five runs in their half of the frame. Coltin Quagliano brought home a run on a single and Hejza brought home three on a round-tripper right center. Westcott then tied the game with a towering solo blast to right field, making it 8-8.
Northern Illinois broke the tie with a run in the fourth, but Illinois would take the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Wescott completed his home run hat trick by launching another moonshot over the scoreboard to score two runs and open the scoring in the frame. Schroeder followed three batters later with a two-run blast of his own, his second of the game, to cap the frame and make it 12-10.
For third-straight game, the Orange and Blue scored seven runs in a single inning, this time in the fifth. Cameron Chee-Aloy led off with a solo home run and Ryan Moerman continued the scoring with a bases-loaded walk. Schroeder cleared the bases with a grand slam and Brody Harding would score on a wild pitch.
Schroeder launched his third home run of the game, a second two-run blast, in the sixth to make it 21-9 Illini, the first time since May 10, 2015, vs. Rutgers that the Illini have scored at least 20 runs in a game.
Northern Illinois put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Illinois still coasted to the 21-11 win.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini continue this homestand with a midweek matchup with SIUE on Tuesday. First pitch from Illinois Field is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Jacob Schroeder went 3-for-4 with three runs, three home runs, eight RBI and walk.
» First-career game with three home runs...career-high eight RBI.
» First eight-RBI game by an Illini since Bren Spillane on March 21, 2018, vs. CSUN.
» Went 7-for-11 (.636) with seven runs, four home runs and 11 RBI during the series vs. NIU.
» Drake Westcott went 3-for-4 with four runs, three home runs, five RBI and a walk.
» Second-career three home run game.
» Is tied for the Big Ten lead with 12 home runs.
» Went 7-for-14 with seven runs, a double, three home runs and nine RBI in the series vs. NIU.
» Extended his hitting streak to seven games...has gone 13-for-33 (.394) during that span with one double, three home runs and 14 RBI.
» Has four-straight multi-hit games...has raised his average from .263 to .305 during that span.
» Has reached base safely in 26-straight games, the longest such streak by an Illini batter this season.
» Cal Hejza went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a home run, four RBI and two walks.
» His 42 hits on the season matches his career-best single-season mark, set last season.
» Has two hits in three-straight games.
» Has scored at least two runs in four-straight games.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, a triple, home run, RBI and a walk.
» Extended his career-long hitting streak 15 games...has gone 26-for-63 (.413) during that span...longest streak by an Illini this season.
» Has reached base safely in 19-straight games and in 30 of 31 overall.
» Ben Plumley picked up the win out of the bullpen.
» 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
» Payton Hutchings also turned in a scoreless outing in relief.
» 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
» The Illinois offense scored 10+ runs for the 13th time this season.
» First game by the Illini with 20+ runs since scoring 28 on May 10, 2015, vs. Rutgers.
» The eight home runs slugged by Illinois was the most a single game since at least 2004.
» Illinois batters finished the series with 15 home runs compared to just 11 strikeouts.
» The Illini improved to 11-1 at Illinois Field this season and have won eight-straight at home.
» The Fighting Illini had three players put together games with multiple extra-base hits.
» Three different Illinois hitters drove in at least four runs.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Illinois pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Northern Illinois hitters.
» Six Fighting Illini had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Huskies at a 15-9 clip.
» Illinois went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 33 Northern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing one ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 13.
» The Fighting Illini drew 10 walks from Northern Illinois pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
