University of Illinois
12-12, 4-6
Penn State
8-16, 3-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Penn State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 9 | 11 | 0 |
Illinois Drops Series Opener at Penn State
March 27, 2026 | Baseball
RECAP
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Fighting Illini dropped their series opener at Penn State, 9-8, away from home on Friday night.
Illinois jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings of play, but the home side went on to tie the game in the fifth before ultimately recording the game-winning run in the eighth.
Collin Jennings went 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, including his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Nick Groves reached base four times and scored three times in the leadoff spot.
GAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 1-for-2 while also registering three walks and three runs scored.
- Extended his on-base streak to 36 games.
- Now tied for the seventh-longest reached base streak by an Illini since 2004.
- Tied his career-high and set a new season-best with his three walks.
- Drew multiple walks for the fourth time.
- Equaled his season-high with three runs scored.
- Scored multiple times for the sixth time.
- Extended his on-base streak to 36 games.
- Jack Zebig went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
- Recorded multiple RBI for the second time this season.
- Tied his season-high with two walks.
- Has posted multiple walks in three games.
- Collin Jennings went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
- Has a hit in nine of the last 10 games.
- Secured a season-high four RBI.
- Drove in multiple runs for the sixth time.
- Hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season.
UP NEXT
Illinois (12-12, 4-6 B1G) will take on Penn State for Game 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. The action from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, Pa., will stream on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kyle Emmons (1-1)
L: Remington, Kyle (3-2)
Batting:
HR: Jennings, Collin 1
RBI: Zebig, Jack 2 ; Putty, AJ 1 ; Jennings, Collin 4 ; Schupmann, Kyle 1
SH: Nelson, J.R. 1
SF: Jennings, Collin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Groves, Nick 3 ; Farina, Michael 1 ; Zebig, Jack 1 ; Putty, AJ 1 ; Jennings, Collin 1 ; Mazzacano, Brayden 1
SB: Groves, Nick 1 ; Farina, Michael 1 ; Putty, AJ 1 ; Jennings, Collin 2
CS: Groves, Nick 1
HBP: Farina, Michael 1
PO: Mazzacano, Brayden 1
Batting:
2B: Bryce Molinaro 1
3B: Jayden Davis 1
HR: Michael Anderson 1
RBI: Michael Anderson 2 ; Spencer Barnett 1 ; Jayden Davis 3 ; Avery Smith 2
SF: Michael Anderson 1 ; Avery Smith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cohl Mercado 1 ; Michael Anderson 2 ; Jack Porter 1 ; Spencer Barnett 1 ; Bryce Molinaro 2 ; Jayden Davis 1 ; Preston Yaucher 1
SB: Cohl Mercado 1
