MINNEAPOLIS -- Illinois baseball (16-13, 7-2) split its doubleheader today at Minnesota (13-13, 3-3), at Siebert Field, to earn a fourth-straight series victory.
GAME 1 | Illinois 7, Minnesota 4
The Fighting Illini broke through after a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning to defeat the Golden Gophers 7-4, clinching the series.
At the plate, Illinois was paced by Cal Hejza, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a walk and three RBI. Coltin Quagliano picked up three hits as well, going 3-for-3 overall with a walk and two RBI. Four of Illinois' runs were scored with two outs.
Jake Rons got the win out of the bullpen for the Illini, with Joe Glassey earning the save by tossing 2.0 scoreless frames to end the game. Cooper Omans took no decision in the start, allowing just one run on two hits over 5.0 innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini took the lead in the third when Hejza brought home Quagliano with a two-out single, but Minnesota would tie the ballgame in the fourth with a run of their own.
Hejza picked up his third hit of the contest in the fifth, which brought home his second and third RBI, and Camden Janik would also drive in a run to make it a 4-1 game.
The Gophers used a three-run frame of their own in the seventh to tie the contest at 4-4.
In the Illinois half of the eighth, a two-out infield single from Brody Harding put the Orange and Blue back in front and Quagliano followed by delivering the crushing blow in the ballgame, a two-out, two-run single to make it 7-4.
The score remained 7-4 for the rest of the game, as Illinois held on for the win, pushing its winning streak to seven games.
GAME NOTES
» Cal Hejza went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a walk.
    » Extended his career-long hitting streak to 12 games...is batting .385 (20-for-52) with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI during that span.
    » Has three-straight three-hit games...has six such games this season.
» Coltin Quagliano went 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a walk.
    » Second three-hit game in his last three.
» Jacob Schroeder went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
    » Extended his career-long hitting streak to 10 games.
        » Is batting 17-for-38 (.447) during that span with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Golden Gophers at a 12-5 clip.
» Illinois went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 37 Minnesota hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Illini extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest such streak since winning 10-straight from March 2-19, 2019.
GAME 2 | Minnesota 8, Illinois 3
Minnesota jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two and never looked back, as Illinois had its seven-game winning streak snapped in an 8-3 defeat.
Cameron Chee-Aloy went 3-for-5 with a double, the lone Illini to have a multi-hit effort in the ballgame.
Regan Hall was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 3.2 innings, surrendering one run on three hits, walking one and striking out three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois were in an 8-0 deficit heading into the eighth before they pushed three runs across. Ryan Moerman collected an RBI on a single and Quagliano earned an RBI with a bases loaded walk. Chee-Aloy also tallied an RBI on a groundout.
The Illini were unable to get any closer, eventually falling 8-3 in the series finale.
GAME NOTES
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 3-for-5 with a double.
    » Extended his career-long hitting streak 11 games...has gone 19-for-50 (.380) during that span.
    » Has reached base safely in 15-straight games and in 26 of 27 overall.
    » Third three-hit game of the season.
» Camden Janik went 1-for-5.
    » Extended his hitting streak to eight games...has gone 17-for-38 (.447) during that span with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
» Ben Plumley and Will Lavin each turned in scoreless appearances out of the bullpen, with the duo each tossing 1.0 innings.
» Every Fighting Illini starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Illinois left 12 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Illinois pitchers faced 43 Minnesota hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out five.
» The Fighting Illini drew six walks from Minnesota pitching.
UP NEXT
Illinois returns to Illinois Field to begin a nine-game homestand with a midweek contest vs. Illinois State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
