TAMPA, Fla. – Illinois dropped its series finale at USF, 11-10, on Sunday afternoon at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Four Illini tallied two-hit days at the plate, while the Orange and Blue hit three home runs in the one-run road loss.
Nick Groves reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two walks, a double, and an RBI.
Will Johannes drove in three runs while going 2-for-5 and hitting his second home run in as many days.
Michael Farina went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while AJ Putty posted a 2-for-4Â outing and a double.
Collin Jennings recorded his first hit of the season – a solo home run in the fourth inning – and Daniel Contreras tallied his first home run as an Illini in the top of the seventh.
Ryan Ohm got the start for the Illini and made his Division-I debut, going four innings while allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two.Â
The Illini opened the scoring with two runs in the top half of the first, but the Bulls bounced back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Illinois responded with three runs in the top of the second, though, all of which came with two outs. Back-to-back hits from Groves and Farina drove in two runs before the Illini shortstop scored on a wild pitch.
The visitors added to their advantage in the top of the fourth after Jennings connected for a 443-foot home run to center, his first hit of the season. A sacrifice fly three batters later lengthened the Illini lead to 7-2.
USF accounted for the game's next six runs, giving the hosts an 8-7 edge, but Contreras' first home run of the season in the top of the seventh evened the contest at eight.
The home side scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead, 11-8. Johannes' two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth cut into the Illini deficit, but the rally ultimately came up just short.
GAME NOTES
- Nick Groves went 2-for-3 with two hits and two singles.
- Reached base in his first (leadoff) at-bat for the third straight game.
- Reached base in four of his five plate appearances (two hits, two walks).
- Extended his on-bast streak to 16 games.
- Scored a season-high three runs.
- Michael Farina went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
- Has multiple hits in two of his first three games as an Illini.
- Has reached multiple times in all three appearances.
- Now has a three-game hitting streak.
- Has scored a run in three consecutive games.
- Kyle Schupmann posted a 1-for-3 outing.
- Extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
- Jack Zebig opened the scoring with his sac fly in the first.
- Marked his first RBI of the season.Â
- Will Johannes went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a 2-run home run.
- His HR was his second of the season and his sixth as an Illini.
- Has home runs in back-to-back games.
- Logged his first multi-hit game of the campaign.
- Daniel Contreras went 1-for-4 with a home run.
- Was his first home run as an Illini.
- AJ Putty went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Tallied his first-career multi-hit game.
- Collin Jennings went 1-for-4 with a home run.
- Marked his first home run of the season and the 17th of his career.Â
- Was also his first hit of the season.
- Ryan Ohm made his Illinois debut while getting the start for the Illini.
- Went four innings while allowing three runs and striking out two Bull batters.
- Illinois is 1-2 in true road games this season.
- The Illini's 10 runs marked a new season-high.
- Illinois tied its season-high with 11 hits.
UP NEXT
Illinois is slated to host its earliest outdoor home opener in program history on Tuesday afternoon against Butler. First pitch from Illinois Field is slated for 3:30 p.m. CT on B1G+.
