CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball (27-19) snapped its three-game losing skid with a 6-4 victory over Bradley (11-33), tonight at Illinois Field.
Ryan Daly got the start on the mound for the Illini and improved to 2-2 on the campaign. The right-hander went 5.0 innings, giving up just two runs on four hits and striking out four. Zach Bates picked up his seventh save of the season by working a scoreless ninth inning.
Vytas Valincius reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a run, an RBI, two walks, while also swiping a career-high three bases, including a steal of home in the seventh.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Braves took a 1-0 lead before the Orange and Blue took an at-bat in the contest, but the hosts tied up the contest with Nick Groves scoring on a first-and-third rundown play.
Valincius gave Illinois its first lead of the game with an RBI-single in the third, making it 2-1, but Bradley got that lead right back with a solo home run in the fourth, its second long ball of the game.
Will Johannes restored the Illini lead with an RBI-single in the home half of the fourth but the Braves responded with a run in the sixth to make it 3-3.
In the seventh, a bloop-single from Jack Zebig put Illinois ahead for good, who doubled its advantage when Valincius stole home on a well-executed double steal. Coltin Quagliano plated the third run of the frame with a single to make it 6-3.
The visitors would score once more in the eighth but Bates shut the door in the ninth, earning the save and giving Illinois the 6-4 win.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Friday, where they begin a three-game Big Ten set vs. No. 18 UCLA at Illinois Field. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Vytas Valincius went 3-for-3 with a run, RBI, two walks and three stolen bases.
» Eighth three-hit game of the season.
» Career-high in stolen bases.
» Nick Groves went 1-for-3 with a run, double and two walks.
» Ryan Daly earned the win in the start.
» 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
» Set a new season-high in innings pitched.
» Zach Bates earned his seventh save of the season.
» 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
» Has not allowed an earned run in his last 6.0 IP, spanning six games.
» Has allowed just one earned run in his last 15.1 IP, spanning 11 games...has struck out 19 batters in those 11 appearances.
» Every Illinois starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Braves at an 11-5 clip.
» Illinois went 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers limited Bradley to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 39 Bradley hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Fighting Illini drew eight walks from Bradley pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
