CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois secured its third consecutive victory to defeat New Orleans, 4-3, in 10 innings on Saturday evening.
J.R. Nelson provided the walkoff single in extras, while Mitch Dye was dominant on the mound, retiring 16 straight batters during his start.
Dye recorded six innings of work with five strikeouts. After the first two Privateers reached in the first, Dye retired the next 16 hitters he faced while posting four consecutive 1-2-3 innings between the second and fifth frames.
Reed Gannon ultimately recorded the win, going 1.1 innings with one strikeout.
At the plate, Nelson reached three times, including his game-winning single, while Michael Farina and Nick Groves both posted multi-hit days at the plate. Groves tallied two RBI, while Farina scored three times, including the game-winning run in the 10th.
After the Privateers scored once in the top of the first, the Illini responded with two runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Illinois then tacked on another run in the sixth on Groves' RBI single.
New Orleans accounted for the game's next two runs, which saw the sides tied at 3-3 after nine innings. In the top half of the 10th, Gannon retired the Privateers in order before the first two Illini batters also did not reach.
Farina roped a two-out double to left field before Nelson sent his full-count pitch to left for a single, which secured the Illini victory.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk.
- Had multiple hits for the 11th time.
- Posted his fifth game with multiple RBI.
- Cameron Chee-Aloy reached on two walks
- Has reached base safely in six straight games.
- Has drawn a walk in each of the last six games.
- Drew multiple walks for the first time this season.
- Jack Zebig went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Has reached base in 14 of the last 15 games.
- Has drawn a walk in three straight contests.
- Collin Jennings went 1-for-3 with two walks.
- Has scored in four straight games.
- Drew multiple walks for the fourth time.
- Daniel Contreras collected a 1-for-5 day at the plate.
- Has a hit in five consecutive appearances.
- Michael Farina went 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.
- Marked his team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season.
- Worked multiple walks for the fourth time.
- Tied his career-high with three runs scored.
- Scored multiple runs for the eighth time this season.
- J.R. Nelson went 1-for-2 with two walks and the walkoff RBI single.
- Has reached safely in 18 of the last 19 games.
- Has a hit in five straight games.
- Has drawn a walk in seven consecutive appearances.
- Drew multiple walks for the fifth time.
- Mitch Dye got the start and went six innings while only allowing one run on one hit and striking out five.
- Retired 16 straight batters between the first and sixth innings.
- Marked the longest outing of his Illini career.
- Tied his Illini career-high with his five strikeouts.
- Has five Ks in three games this season.
- Has at least four strikeouts in each of his last five appearances.
- Allowed one run or fewer for the sixth time this season.
- Reed Gannon earned the win, going 1.1 innings with one strikeout.
- Recorded his third victory of the season.
- Was his seventh scoreless appearance this season.
- The Illini secured their second walkoff win of the season.
- Illinois drew 10 walks as a team, its third game with 10+ BBs this season.
- The Illini are now 4-1 in extra-inning games this season.
- Illinois extended its winning streak to three games.
- The Illini are now 9-3 at Illinois Field this season.
UP NEXT
Illinois (18-15, 7-8 B1G) will take on New Orleans in the series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. Admission is free, while the contest will stream on B1G+.
