CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois used a 10th-inning walkoff to defeat Minnesota, 2-1, in its series opener on Friday night at Illinois Field.
Cole Warehime delivered the winning hit on a bases-loaded RBI single in the 10th, while the Fighting Illini pitching staff held the Golden Gophers scoreless across the final six frames en route to their first Big Ten win of the season.
The bottom three hitters in the Illini order each tallied a hit in the contest, while Michael Farina went 2-for-4.
The Orange and Blue pitching staff kept the Gophers hitless over the final six innings. Mitch Dye started on the mound, going 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, while Ryan Ohm tossed 3.1 hitless innings in relief. Reed Gannon ultimately picked up his first victory of the year with his two scoreless frames.
The visitors opened the scoring in the fourth before the Illini got on the board in the fifth. After Jack Zebig reached on a double, J.R. Nelson brought him home on a safety squeeze two batters later.
Both teams left runners in scoring position in the seventh, with the game eventually moving into extra innings. After Gannon retired the Gophers in order in the top half of the frame, the Illini offense loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Warehime sent the first pitch he saw into center field, scoring Collin Jennings to win the game.
GAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 1-for-3 while reaching base three times.
- Extended his on-base streak to 28 games.
- Drew multiple walks for the third time.
- Michael Farina finished 2-4 at the plate while reaching three times.
- Has reached base in each of his first 16 games as an Illini.
- Recorded his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
- J.R. Nelson went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Posted his sixth RBI of the season.
- Has an RBI in back-to-back games for the first time.
- Mitch Dye made the longest outing of his Illini career, going 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and one run allowed.
- His five strikeouts also marked a new career-high.
- Has allowed one run or fewer in each of his last five appearances.
- Recorded the first start of his Illinois career.
- Ryan Ohm recorded 3.1 hitless innings of work with three strikeouts.
- Has gone multiple innings in four of his six appearances.
- Has multiple strikeouts in four outings.
- Has 3+ Ks in back-to-back appearances.
- Recorded his first hitless outing of the season and his third scoreless game.
- Reed Gannon got the win with two innings of work and two strikeouts.
- Garnered his first victory of the season and the third of his career.
- Now has four shutout appearances this season and three hitless outings.
- The Illini are now 3-0 in extra-inning games this season.
- Illinois snapped Minnesota's seven-game winning streak and held the Gopher offense to a season-low one run and four hits.
- The Illini held the Golden Gophers hitless/scoreless across the final six innings.
- The Illini registered their first true walkoff since March 15, 2024, when Cameron Chee-Aloy hit a walkoff RBI single against Southern Indiana.
- Illinois' pitching staff finished with 10 strikeouts.
- The Illini pitchers have amassed double-digit strikeouts in six games this season.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini close their series against Minnesota with a Saturday doubleheader. The sides will start Game 1 at 1 p.m. CT, while Game 2 will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. Admission is free to both contests, while the games will stream on B1G+.
