CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball (18-11, 7-5) shutout Maryland (14-18, 3-9), 11-0 in seven innings, today at Illinois Field to claim its first series sweep of the season.
The Fighting Illini have now won four-straight contests, their longest winning streak of the season, and improved to 8-1 in front of the home fans.
Regan Hall turned in one of the best starts of his career, improving to 3-2 on the campaign by twirling 6.1 scoreless frames, allowing just four hits and one walk to go along with a season-high six strikeouts. Payton Hutchings retired both batters he faced to earn the Orange and Blue's first shutout since April 29, 2023, at Ohio State.
Collin Jennings and Jacob Schroeder each drove in three runs while Cameron Chee-Aloy, Vytas Valincius and Jennings all tallied two hits. All nine Illinois starters reached base safely and scored a run in the ballgame.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second-straight game, the Illini broke the game open with five runs in the first inning. Greg LaChance and Valincius recorded RBI-doubles and Schroeder cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run, double down the third base line.
On the mound, Hall retired the first eight batters he faced before allowing back-to-back singles in the third, but the sophomore would strand both runners and then go on to spin a quick 1-2-3 fourth. Illinois added a run in the home half of the frame when LaChance raced home on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.
Hall made quick work of the Terrapins in the fifth, retiring the side in order, and the Illini pushed another run across the plate through an RBI-single from Chee-Aloy.
The visitors looked to get back into the contest in the sixth when they loaded the bases with just one out but Hall was able to induce an inning-ending double-play to preserve the 7-0 lead. Coltin Quagliano would add another run on the board with an RBI-groundout to make it 8-0.
After Hall and Hutchings combined for a scoreless seventh, Jennings crushed a three-run blast to right center to give Illinois its second-straight run-rule walk-off victory.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini make the short trip to Normal, Ill., on Tuesday for a midweek contest at Illinois State. First pitch from Duffy Bass Field is set for 5 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Collin Jennings went 2-for-4 with a run, home run, three RBI and a walk.
» Is now tied for the team lead with seven home runs this season.
» Posted four hits and five RBI during the Maryland series.
» Has hits in 13 of his last 15 games.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
» Five hits and three RBI in his last two games.
» Vytas Valincius went 2-for-3 with two runs, a double, an RBI and a walk.
» Has driven in at least one run in four-straight games.
» Jacob Schroeder went 1-for-2 with a run, double and three RBI.
» Was hit by a pitch twice in the ballgame.
» Has seven hits in his last five games.
» Greg LaChance went 1-for-3 with two runs, a double, an RBI and two walks.
» Extended his season-long hitting streak to seven games.
» Regan Hall improved to 3-2 on the season by tossing his second quality start of the campaign.
» 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
» Career-high in innings pitched.
» Season-high in strikeouts.
» Illinois recorded its first series sweep of the season.
» The Illini improved to 8-1 at Illinois Field this season.
» Illinois earned its first shutout since April 29, 2023, at Ohio State.
» First shutout at Illinois Field since May 7, 2022, vs. Miami (OH).
» First shutout of a Big Ten opponent at home since April 17, 2022, vs. Northwestern.
» Third run-rule walk-off home run of the season.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Terrapins at a 9-4 clip.
» The Fighting Illini swiped six bases as a team.
» Both Jacob Schroeder and Grant Ross stole two bases.
» Illinois pitchers limited Maryland to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 26 Maryland hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Maryland pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
