The Illini (24-13) hosted their final game of an eight-game homestand, looking to add to an impressive home record. In their way of a homestand sweep were the 8-28 Western Illinois Leathernecks.
As they have throughout the last several weeks, the Illini bats rose to the occasion, crushing the Leathernecks pitching staff en route to a 12-1 victory. This win pushed the win streak to a season-high eight games in a row. The home record also moved to 15-1, with the only Illinois home loss coming on Mar 17.
The midweek matchup featured seven different arms on the mound, with sophomore left-hander Sam Reed starting for the Illini. Reed recorded three strikeouts over seven batters, with just one hit. Senior right-hander Will Lavin also recorded three strikeouts, as did sophomore righty Jake Swartz.
The offense was the story again, but it took a little bit to get going. The fifth inning arrived, and so did the offense. Illinois held a 1-0 lead off of junior infielder Coltin Quagliano’s solo shot in the third. But, a grand slam and three-run shot in the fifth, both with two outs, gave Illinois an 8-0 lead. Another two homers in the bottom of the sixth gave Illinois a 12-0 lead, assisted by a wild pitch advancing senior infielder Cal Hejza to the plate.
The pitching shut down the Leathernecks despite a shaky ninth inning from sophomore right-hander Julius Sanchez. Across the nine innings, the Leathernecks mustered just four hits and one ninth-inning run, as Illinois pitchers posted 11 strikeouts over 37 batters. Lavin recorded his third win of the season as the Illini recorded a full sweep across the eight-game homestand.
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Offensively, the Illini have refused to kneel to opponents, and that was no different on this homestand. Illinois outscored its four opponents during this stretch by a total of 97-39. The Illini have been on fire since the Ides of March, winning six straight series after being dominated by the Tennessee Volunteers. Since losing to the Vols, the Illini have won 19 of their last 22 games, scoring less than five runs just twice.
Next on the Illini schedule are the Maryland Terrapins for a Big Ten matchup, as the conference-leading Illini look to build on their impressive run. This is the third road conference matchup of the season for Illinois, having won both series against Indiana and Minnesota earlier this year.
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