SAN MARCOS, Texas --Â Illinois baseball (3-1) earned its third-straight win by defeating Texas State (4-1), 15-3, today at Bobcat Ballpark.
Eleven different Illini recorded a hit in the contest and 13 different Illini reached base safely in the contest, with Greg LaChance's four-RBI performance leading the charge. Nick Groves reached base five times, scoring a game-high four runs.
Tyler Schmitt earned his first win at Illinois by tossing his first quality start of the season. The right-hander worked 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on five hits to go along with three strikeouts. Schmitt ended his outing by retiring nine-straight Texas State batters. Junior Jake Swartz earned his first save of the campaign by working 3.0 shutout innings and not allowing a hit.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead after the first but the Illini grabbed that run back in the second when LaChance scored on a wild pitch.Â
Following a shutdown frame from Schmitt, Illinois took control of the contest by plating five runs in the third. Kyle Schupmann started the scoring with an RBI double and would come around to score later in the inning. Jack Zebig brought home a run with a two-out single and Cameron Chee-Aloy and Nick Groves each earned an RBI by drawing bases-loaded walks to make it 6-1.
The hosts scored two more in the fourth but the Illini again responded immediately, with LaChance's two-out, two-run, single restoring Illinois' five-run lead at 8-3.
The Orange and Blue put up four more runs in the sixth, two in eighth and one more in the ninth, as the offense totaled 14 hits and 12 walks in the ballgame.
Schmitt and Swartz combined to retire 18 of the final 20 Texas State batters faced, with the two baserunners reaching via error, to help Illinois cruise to the 15-3 victory.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Bobcats. First pitch from Bobcat Ballpark in the opener is set for 12 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Nick Groves went 2-for-3 with four runs scored, two RBI, two walks and was hit by a pitch.
    » Has three two-hit games this season.
    » Has reached base safely in all four games this season, drawing a total of six walks.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 1-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a walk.
    » Extended his hitting streak to 19 games and his on-base streak to 23 games.
        » Has reached base safely in 34 of 35 career games.
        » Has gone 32-for-79 (.405) with six doubles, a triple, a home run and 16 RBI during his hitting streak.
» Kyle Schupmann went 2-for-3 with a run, double and an RBI.
    » Has hit safely in all four games this season...has two multi-hit performances.
» Jack Zebig went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI.
    » Hit his first-career Illinois home run.
    » Has hit safely in all four games this season.
» Grant Ross went 1-for-2 with a run, double and two walks in his first start at Illinois.
» Luke Landrus came off the bench, making his Illinois and collegiate debut, and went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
» Brayden Mazzacano, making his Illinois and collegiate debut, came off the bench to draw a walk with the bases loaded and earn his first-career RBI.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely in the win and a total of 13 different Illini reached base safely in the contest.
» The Illini went 9-for-18 (.500) with two outs in the contest, tallying a total of nine two-out RBI.
» Illinois has tallied double-digit hits in three of four games this season.
    » First time since 2016 to have at least three games with 10+ hits in the first four games of the season.
» Tyler Schmitt picked up his first win and first quality start at Illinois.
    » 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
    » Retired the final nine batters he faced.
» Jake Swartz picked up the first save of his career by tossing 3.0 scoreless frames, striking out one.
    » Did not allow any of the 11 batters faced to reach safely.
        » Two batters reached on an error.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Bobcats at a 14-5 clip.
» Illinois went 5-for-15 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 35 Texas State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out four.
» The Fighting Illini drew 12 walks from Texas State pitching.
    » Have drawn at least eight walks in three games this season.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
