The Illinois baseball team defeated Cornell University 19-12 last Friday in Bradenton, Fla. to cap off a perfect 6-0 spring trip in the Sunshine State.

The Illini slugged out a season high 19 runs on 21 hits, including three home runs and nine doubles in its finale against the Big Red.

“We had a little bit of everything over the trip.” Sophomore second baseman Ryan Hastings said. “We won games almost every way imaginable. Our pitching was solid and our hitting came around towards the end, and it resulted in a good trip.”

Despite falling behind Cornell early, Illinois fought back and the Illini offense exploded at the plate for 12 runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Illini comeback was led by senior first baseman Dave Schultz, who blasted his first and second home runs of the season on his way to a 4 for 6 day at the plate and drove in five Illini runs. Schultz’s two home runs and five RBI’s tied his career highs.

Schultz wasn’t the only Illini to go deep. Fellow senior rightfielder Trevor Huisinga hit his first homerun of the season in the sixth-inning and finished the day 3 for 4 with four RBI’s and four runs scored. Junior left fielder Ryan Snowden went a perfect 4-4 with four runs scored and two RBI’s.

“It was just a matter of getting pitches to hit,” Hastings said. “Once we got the pitches we were able to put good swings on the ball and put up some big numbers.”

The 19-12 win capped off a 6-0 spring trip for the Illini – its first perfect spring trip since 2002 – and improved the team’s record to 10-4.

Illinois fished its trip hitting .379 with 26 extra-base hits and outscored its opponents 61-36 while out-hitting them by 24.

“Over the trip we played really well,” Schultz said. “The 6-0 record explains everything. From an offensive standpoint a lot of it was just mental and being able to get everybody their at bats. Everyone is comfortable now and we have our bats going into the conference season.”

On the mound the Illini got solid performances by a few of its youngsters. Freshman reliever Ben Reeser picked up his first two wins of the season in two relief performances against Northern Iowa and Cornell. While fellow freshman Scott Shaw also picked up his first win as an Illini starter in the team’s second game of the trip against Illinois-Chicago.

“Our freshman pitched well for us,” Snowden said. “They stepped up and didn’t go out there and act like freshman. They pitched with confidence and threw strikes.”

The Illini return to the Midwest to play in their first game outside the states of Florida or Texas tonight when they head to Terre Haute, Ind. to take on Indiana State at 6:30 p.m.

The Illini defeated the Sycamores last season at home 8-4. Huisinga and junior Mike Rohde each had a hit and an RBI in the two teams’ last meeting. Indiana State enters the game 10-7 coming off of a 2-1 weekend at Evansville.

“Indiana State will be ready to play,” Hastings said. “We’re going to have to go out and play well. They are always a good program. Our pitchers will have to go out and pitch a good game and we’re going to have to put some runs up on the board to support them.”