Box Score
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No. 15 Illinois 11, Northwestern 4 Illinois Field · Champaign, Ill. Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) |
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Northwestern, the home team for the game, struck first with a solo run in the bottom of the first inning, but Illinois answered with a four-run frame as it slugged its way to an 11-4 victory Saturday at Illinois Field.
The Wildcats did not carry their lead very long before the Fighting Illini responded with two runs to take the lead and never look back. Illinois added four more in the third and a pair of runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the frame.
Northwestern finally got on the scoreboard once again in the fifth. Fifth-year senior Cody Stevens led off the inning with a double to center field before redshirt-freshman Grant Peikert sent a one-out double down the left side to drive home NU's second run of the game.
The `Cats added another run in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to Joe Hoscheit's second home run of the year.
NU attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth frame as fifth-year senior Kyle Ruchim launched a two-out double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball. Junior Zach Jones singled through the left side to plate another run, but the `Cats rally fell short when Hoscheit flied out to center field for the final out.
The `Cats used five pitchers in the game, including starting sophomore Joe Schindler who took the loss for NU after allowing six runs on just as many hits in the first 3 1/3 innings. Junior Reed Mason, sophomore Pete Hofman, and freshmen Tommy Bordignon and Justin Yoss also saw time on the bump for the Wildcats.
Ruchim and Jones logged three hits apiece during Saturday's contest. The duo has combined for nine hits against the Fighting Illini this series.
The series finale will get underway on Sunday, March 2, beginning at 1 p.m. CST. Senior Brandon Magallones is scheduled to get the start for NU, while Illinois will send John Kravetz to the mound. Magallones holds a 2-1 record this spring and ranks second among Big Ten pitchers with 42 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.
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