Through the first two games of the series, it looked like Illinois had thrown everything it had at the nation’s longest winning streak. The Illini had a pitcher throw a complete game Friday, albeit in a losing effort. Then Illinois collected 10 hits Saturday, but it still wasn’t enough to beat Indiana.

The Hoosiers (25-4, 8-1 Big Ten) had increased its program-best winning streak to 18 consecutive victories and hadn’t lost since March 9 as they ascended to No. 16 in the rankings.

That was until Sunday, when Illinois came away with a 3-2 victory to avoid being swept in what head coach Dan Hartleb called “as good a college game as you can see.”

Sunday’s victory was a consolation prize for the Illini (19-9, 2-4), who now fall 4 1/2 games behind the Hoosiers in the conference. The Illini have now faced the top two teams in the Big Ten as projected by the Big Ten coaches in the preseason.

Justin Parr led the Illini and seemed like he could single-handedly will Illinois to victory Sunday. He continued his season-long hitting clinic by going 4-for-4 Sunday, adding his second home run of the year and two runs while extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. He raised his average to .433, and his 52 hits on the year lead the Big Ten.

Parr was at the plate for one of the turning points of the game, in the top of the sixth with the score tied at 2. After Indiana pitcher Aaron Slegers threw two straight balls to Parr, who was leading off the inning, Hoosier head coach Tracy Smith wanted to pull Slegers in favor of a left hander. So, Hartleb waited and allowed him to warmup and Slegers to go sit down as if his day was finished before he reminded the umpires of the rule that once a pitcher crosses the foul line he must at least finish the first hitter he faces. It forced Slegers back into the game, and Parr would end up with a single and go on to score what would be the winning run.

“Players make you look like geniuses sometimes,” Hartleb said.

Parr did have help, mostly from freshman Ryan Castellanos lasting six innings Sunday in his first career start, allowing just two runs and picking up his first career victory.

 In his six appearances prior to Sunday, Castellanos had a 2.38 ERA and impressed Hartleb with his composure, which he did not lose even after giving up a game-tying two-run home run. He also impressed with his command and didn’t walk a batter during his start.

“You get a little bit of butterflies, but most of it’s all excitement,” Castellanos said. “I was really excited.”

He’s positioned himself into the starting rotation for Illinois, and Hartleb left no doubt that Castellanos is the new Sunday starter.

Illinois also benefited from two big outfield assists from right fielder Davis Hendrickson, who threw out a runner at third in the second, and left fielder Jordan Parr, who threw out a runner at home in the third.

“That fires me up because it just reminds me that my teammates are backing me up,” Castellanos said. “I don’t need to be perfect. I can go there and make my pitches and pitch to contact.”

Kevin Johnson couldn’t end the streak Friday in front of the largest crowd in Indiana baseball history, when 2,757 fans packed a sold-out Bart Kaufman Field for the first night game in Indiana’s new stadium.

Johnson would pitch a complete game, retiring 20 of the final 22 Indiana batters, but the Illini couldn’t recover after allowing three runs in the first two innings.

Right fielder Will Krug was hit on the hand with a pitch in that game and missed the rest of the series. Hartleb said Krug will be out for “a while.” Hendrickson will likely be Krug’s replacement in right field going forward.

However, facing a lefty Saturday meant the left-handed Hendrickson would not get into the lineup, and it was first baseman David Kerian as the unlikely starting outfielder. Kerian approached Hartleb before the game and told him he could play the outfield and made his first career start in left field.

Illinois will have to find a new leadoff hitter to replace Krug, who was hitting .305 as Illinois’ leadoff man.

Last year’s leadoff man, Thomas Lindauer, reclaimed that spot Saturday, and it was Jordan Parr who led off the game Sunday. Hartleb said he’s still trying to find someone to fill that role.

All of Illinois’ offense in Saturday’s game came from home runs by Lindauer (5) and third baseman Brandon Hohl (2), but the Illini went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and lost the game 7-3.

So Illinois came out and knew it needed to win on Sunday, and Hartleb said he still thinks the Illini are in striking distance of Indiana and able to prevent them from running away with the conference.

“They remind me of us,” Hartleb said. “They’ve found a way to win 18 in a row. That’s tough, that’s a tough thing to do. I think they’re a good team, but I think we’re a good team.”

Jamal can be reached at [email protected] or

@jamalcollier.