Since Illinois’ (15-15, 7-8) last series loss at USC (27-6, 10-5) almost a month ago, it has won three straight Big Ten series. Going into the weekend set against the Purdue Boilermakers (21-10, 9-6), the Illini needed to secure another series win.
Going back to 2019, Illinois had its way with Purdue, going 14-3 in that span, including an 11-game win streak from 2021 to 2025. However, things did not go according to plan in the return to Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers flipped the script, taking two out of three games from the Illini to win the season series for the first time since 2018.
Slow start sinks Illini
The opening game of the series started at 1 p.m. due to forecasted inclement weather. The earlier start may have thrown the Illini batters off, as they went down 1-2-3 in three of the first four innings.
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Even with the struggles, in the middle of the fifth inning, the Illini only trailed 2-0. However, the Boilermakers’ bats came alive in the bottom half. While a five-run margin with 12 outs to go seemed daunting, Illinois had its chances to cut into the big deficit.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Illini managed to put runners on second and third with two down, but senior infielder Jack Zebig flied out, ending the threat. They threatened in the very next frame, this time loading the bases with only one out and graduate student catcher Daniel Contreras coming up to bat. He proceeded to ground into a double play, stopping that rally in its tracks as well.
Boilermakers senior infielder Sam Flores cranked a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, putting the game out of reach for the stagnant Illini. They scored their single run on an RBI groundout by junior infielder J.R. Nelson. Manufacturing only one run will not often cut it in college baseball, where scores run high.
Big innings go both ways
While it may not always play a factor in a result, one big inning can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This was the case in the second and third games of the series.
On Saturday, the Illini went into the top of the sixth inning trailing the Boilermakers 2-1. That score did not stand for long, as redshirt junior infielder Kyle Schupmann took Purdue’s senior left-hander Zach Erdman deep to right field to tie the score. Three more runs followed as a result of two singles and a sacrifice fly.
Senior outfielder Nick Groves hit one of those RBI singles back up the middle, while the other came courtesy of Zebig. Groves gave Illinois the lead for good with another RBI single in the seventh inning, this time up the right side.
The next day, the Illini looked like they would be in control from the first pitch. Zebig hit a two-run home run down the right field line to put them in front. Illinois batted around in the first inning and scored five runs.
That would be all the scoring on the Illini side. From there, the Boilermakers surged ahead with eight runs in the first three innings. Illinois could not mount a rally and lost the rubber match.
Up and down pitching
Junior left-hander Regan Hall got off to a decent start in game one, throwing four innings of four-hit ball and only allowing two runs. However, the fifth inning is where the wheels fell off.
Hall allowed as many hits in one frame as he did in the first four and gave up three runs. While the bullpen only allowed one run the rest of the way, with how the offense was not producing any runs, it was all but over.
The next evening, senior right-hander Mitch Dye got the ball and had a solid start. He also allowed four hits and two runs while striking out five. In relief, junior right-hander Kyle Remington kept Purdue in check and got the win, while senior left-hander Reed Gannon earned the save.
Things turned sour again as freshman left-hander Aidan Flinn and sophomore right-hander Sam Mommer combined to give up 10 runs on 11 hits while only striking out three batters. Even after a big first inning by Illinois, this type of performance can make it tricky for the offense to keep up.
Long homestand on deck
Illinois will play its next 12 games in the confines of Illinois Field, the first being on Tuesday against Indiana State (16-15, 6-3). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT. The Illini are 6-3 at home this spring, so this could be a chance for them to regroup and find their stride again in front of their home crowd.
@ShaperoZach
