CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini secured a 16-4 run-rule win over SIUE on Tuesday night at Illinois Field.
The Orange and Blue jumped out to an early lead and never looked back en route to the seven-inning triumph. The hosts scored 14 runs across the first two innings, including 10 runs with two outs, as Illinois improved to 19-16 overall and 10-4 at home this season.
The Illini hit a season-high four home runs in the contest, including two from AJ Putty, who became the first Illinois freshman to hit multiple homers in a game since 2019. He ultimately went 3-for-4 with three RBI. J.R. Nelson notched his second long ball of the year, which came in the bottom of the first, while Jack Zebig's solo shot to lead off the second was his fourth of the year.
Nick Groves posted a 3-for-5 day at the plate while scoring twice, while Will Johannes went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles. Zebig also totaled four RBI.
On the mound, Sam Reed recorded the start, going two innings while allowing only one hit, while Luke Weber logged the win across his three innings of work with two strikeouts.
After Reed started the day with a 1-2-3 frame, the Orange and Blue offense responded with a seven-run effort in the bottom of the first. Zebig's sac fly opened the scoring, while Johannes cleared the bases on his three-run, two-out double. Two batters later, Nelson extended the Illini lead to 7-0 with his two-run homer to left.
The Cougars got on the board in the second, but Illinois found an answer once again via a seven-run second. Zebig and Putty went back-to-back to lead off the inning, with Putty's home run traveling 468 feet. Zebig and Putty each added another RBI in the frame via run-scoring singles, which gave the hosts a 14-1 edge through two innings.
SIUE accounted for the game's next three runs before Putty tallied his second home run of the night in the bottom of the fifth. The Illini added one more run in the sixth, while the Illini bullpen combined to retire the final eight Cougar hitters of the night to close out the run-rule win.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI.
- Had at least three hits for the seventh time this season.
- Has 12 multi-hit games this season.
- Scored multiple runs for the eighth time.
- Had multiple doubles for the first time as an Illini.
- Has reached base in 33 of his 34 appearances this season.
- Michael Farina reached on a walk and scored two runs.
- Has scored multiple runs in nine games.
- Jack Zebig went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
- Was his fourth homer of the season.
- Marked his second multi-hit game of the year.
- Tallied at least four RBI for the second time.
- Has multiple RBI in five games this season.
- AJ Putty went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI.
- Became the first Illini freshman with two HRs in a game since Branden Comia on May 18, 2019, at Michigan State
- Recorded his sixth and seventh homers of the season.
- His first homer of the night traveled 468 feet.
- Had at least three hits for the fifth time this season.
- Tallied 3+ RBI for the sixth time.
- Scored multiple runs for the seventh time.
- Kyle Schupmann reached on three walks and scored two runs.
- Tied his career-high/set a new season-best with his three walks.
- Has drawn multiple walks in four games this season.
- Scored multiple runs for the 10th time.
- Has reached base in 17 of the last 18 games.
- Collin Jennings drew two walks and scored two runs.
- Scored multiple runs for the 10th time.
- Has scored in six straight games.
- Drew multiple walks for the sixth time.
- Has two walks in four straight games.
- Will Johannes went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, and a run.
- Had at least three RBI for the fifth time.
- Had multiple RBI for the ninth time.
- Tied his season/career-high with his two doubles.
- Cole Warehime went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Made his 12th start of the season.
- J.R. Nelson went 1-for-2 with two RBI, two walks, and two runs scored.
- Hit his second home run of the season.
- Has reached safely in 20 of the last 21 games.
- Holds the team's longest active on-base streak of 11 games.
- Has drawn a walk in nine consecutive appearances.
- Drew multiple walks for the sixth time this season.
- Scored multiple runs for the fifth time.
- Has multiple RBI in three games this season.
- Luke Landrus collected a pinch-hit single and scored in the sixth.
- Was his third hit/run scored this season.
- Cole Crafton collected a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth.
- Was his third RBI of the season/of his career.
- Sam Reed got the start and went two innings with one hit and one run allowed.
- Was his first start of the season.
- Went more than one inning for the eighth time.
- Luke Weber logged the win, going three innings with two runs/hits allowed and two strikeouts.
- Was his first win of the season and the second of his career.
- Had multiple strikeouts for the third time this season.
- Marked the longest outing of his career.
- Liam McKillop recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh against his former team.
- Was his eighth scoreless appearance of the season.
- Brayden Mazzacano made his second pitching appearance of the season.
- The Illini earned their third run-rule win of the season.
- Illinois hit a season-high four home runs.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini (19-16, 7-8 B1G) resume Big Ten play against No. 19 Oregon at Illinois Field this weekend. The series opener on Friday is set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch, while admission is free.
