TAMPA, Fla. – Illinois secured its first win of the season on Saturday with a 4-2 extra-innings road victory over USF on Saturday.
Home runs from AJ Putty and Will Johannes fueled the Fighting Illini offense, while Regan Hall and Kyle Remington combined for 10 innings of two-hit ball en route to the triumph.
Hall went 6.1 innings, striking out six while allowing just one earned run and two hits. Remington entered in relief, earning the win after going 3.2 innings without giving up a hit and registering three strikeouts. The pair faced just 34 batters over 10 innings of work on an efficient 93 pitches.
Putty's two-run home run in the fourth inning marked the first homer of his collegiate career, while Johannes launched a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the 10th, which proved to be the game-winner.
At the plate, Daniel Contreras and Kyle Schupmann both went 3-for-4 on the day, while Nick Groves tallied two hits and two stolen bases. Michael Farina continued his strong start to the season with a 1-for-3 day while also reaching base twice via hit by pitch.
The Bulls opened the scoring in the bottom half of the third, but the Illini were not behind for long. In the top half of the fourth, Schupmann reached on an infield single and stole second before Putty launched his first-career home run over the left-field fence to put the Illini in front.
USF's run in the sixth inning evened the contest, and neither team was able to separate itself at the conclusion of nine innings of play.
In the top half of the 10th, the Illini got a runner aboard via Farina's single before Johannes entered the game as a pinch hitter. The senior connected on the third pitch he saw for his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to give the visitors the lead.
Remington ultimately closed out the win in the home half of the frame to send the series to a rubber match on Sunday.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Daniel Contreras went 3-for-4 at the plate.
- Registered his first hits as an Illini.
- Kyle Schupmann posted a 3-for-4 outing.
- Tied his career-high with three hits.
- Extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
- His two stolen bases marked a new career-high.
- AJ Putty went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
- Recorded the first home run of his collegiate career.
- His first-career hit was a home run.
- Also marked his first collegiate RBI.
- Will Johannes entered as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning, going 1-for-1 with a home run.
- His HR was his first of the season and his fifth as an Illini.
- Nick Groves went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases.
- Stole multiple bases for the third time as an Illini.
- Michael Farina went 1-for-3 with two HBP and a run scored.
- Has reached base three times in each of his first two games as an Illini.
- Regan Hall went 6.1 innings with six strikeouts and two hits allowed.
- Made the 15th start of his college career.
- Went at least six innings for the seventh time in his career.
- Kyle Remington entered in relief, getting the win and posting 3.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
- Was his third career victory and his first as an Illini.
- Daniel Contreras and J.R. Nelson made their first starts at Illinois.
- The Illini are now 1-0 in extra-inning contests this season.
- Illinois is 1-1 in true road games.
UP NEXT
The series finale against the Bulls in Tampa is slated for Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
