CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois opened the weekend with a 13-1 run-rule victory over New Orleans on Friday night at Illinois Field.
The Fighting Illini used an eight-run second inning to jump out to an early lead, while Regan Hall registered the win with his five innings of one-run ball.
Daniel Contreras, Michael Farina, and Nick Groves all posted multi-hit days at the plate. Farina went 2-for-3 with three RBI while reaching three times, while Groves tallied a three-hit day with two RBI and two runs. Contreras collected his fourth straight two-hit day while scoring twice.
Hall went five innings with six strikeouts and only one run allowed, while Sam Reed and Liam McKillop secured scoreless outings in relief.
After the sides both posted zeros in the first, the Illini offense exploded for eight runs in the second. Sending 13 batters to the plate, the Orange and Blue scored eight times on six hits to establish an 8-0 edge.
The Privateers got on the board with a run in the fourth, but the hosts answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
A three-run Illini fifth rounded out the scoring before Reed and McKillop recorded scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, respectively.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.
- Had at least three hits for the sixth time this season.
- Had multiple hits for the 10th time.
- Posted his fourth game with multiple RBI.
- Scored multiple runs for the seventh time.
- Cameron Chee-Aloy reached on a walk and two HBP
- Has reached base safely in five straight games.
- Has drawn a walk in each of the last five games.
- Scored multiple runs for the first time this season.
- Jack Zebig went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
- Has reached base in 13 of the last 14 games.
- Recorded multiple RBI for the fourth time.
- Has scored a run in three straight games.
- AJ Putty went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
- Has reached in five straight games.
- Has gotten on base in 12 of the last 13 games.
- Has scored in three consecutive appearances.
- Kyle Schupmann posted a 1-for-2 day at the plate with two walks and an RBI.
- Now has a hit in 14 consecutive contests.
- Drew multiple walks for the third time.
- Collin Jennings went 1-for-1 with two walks and a hit by pitch.
- Scored multiple runs for the eighth time this season.
- Has scored in three straight games.
- Drew multiple walks for the third time.
- Daniel Contreras collected a 2-for-3 day with two runs and an RBI.
- Tallied his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
- Has two hits in four straight games.
- Scored multiple runs for the fourth time.
- Michael Farina went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
- Marked his team-leading 11th multi-hit game of the season.
- Set a new career-high with three RBI.
- Drove in multiple runs for the second time.
- J.R. Nelson went 1-for-3 and reached on a walk.
- Has reached safely in 17 of the last 18 games.
- Has drawn a walk in six consecutive appearances.
- Regan Hall got the start and earned the win, going five innings with six strikeouts.
- Has gone at least five innings in all nine starts this season.
- Had at least six strikeouts for the fifth time.
- Allowed one earned run or fewer for the fourth time.
- Sam Reed registered a scoreless sixth with a 1-2-3 frame.
- Has six shutout appearances this season.
- Liam McKillop retired all three batters he faced in the seventh.
- Was his seventh scoreless appearance of the season.
- The Illini secured their second seven-inning win of the season.
- Illinois scored 10+ runs for the ninth time.
UP NEXT
Illinois (17-15, 7-8 B1G) returns for Game 2 against New Orleans on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. CT. Admission is free, while the contest will stream on B1G+.
