OMAHA, Neb. -- [1] Illinois baseball (34-19) dropped its contest to [4] Michigan (32-27), 4-2, tonight at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
The defeat eliminates the Illini from the 2024 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament Presented by IFS.ai.
Payton Hutchings got the ball to start for Illinois, taking the loss despite allowing just two runs on three hits over 4.1 innings of work, striking out two. Regan Hall also turned in a solid outing in relief, spinning 4.0 innings of one-run ball, yielding four hits to go along with three punchouts and no walks.
Camden Janik went 1-for-4 with a run, triple and RBI and Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Connor Milton walked twice and scored a run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wolverines took a 4-0 lead by scoring one run in the third, fifth, eighth and ninth innings.
The Illini attempted a late rally in the ninth, with Janik tripling home Milton with two outs to get the Orange and Blue on the board. Westcott followed with an RBI-single to cut the deficit to two. The tying run would come to the plate but Illinois could not extend the rally and would ultimately fall 4-2.
UP NEXT
The 2024 Big Ten champions now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament as they await their postseason fate. The 64-team field will be announced on Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN 2.
GAME NOTES
» Camden Janik went 1-for-4 with a run, triple and an RBI.
» Has reached base safely in 32 games.
» Has at least one RBI in eight of his last 10 games.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
» Has hit safely in four-straight games...has gone 7-for-19 (.368) during that span with a double, two home runs and seven RBI.
» Connor Milton went 0-for-1 with a run and two walks.
» Only Illini to reach base safely twice tonight.
» Has reached base safely in 19-straight games.
» Cal Hejza's 37-game on-base streak came to an end.
» Payton Hutchings got the start for the Illini.
» 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 5 BB, 2 SO
» Matched his longest outing of the season.
» Regan Hall turned in a solid relief outing.
» 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
» Has allowed just three runs over his last 10.1 innings of work (3 G, 2.61 ERA).
» Has eight strikeouts compared to two walks during that span.
» Illinois pitchers faced 40 Michigan hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out six.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
