CONWAY, S.C. – The Illini opened Baseball at the Beach with a 9-4 victory over VCU at Springs Brooks Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The Illini registered big offensive innings in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, while Ben Plumley and Reed Gannon combined to allow one run over the final eight frames to secure the win.
Cole Warehime hit two home runs in the contest – his first of the season – in the fifth and seventh innings, going 3-for-5 with four RBI.
Daniel Contreras posted a 2-for-5 day at the plate, recording his second home run of the season on his game-tying solo shot in the sixth.
Collin Jennings collected two hits, scoring twice while reaching base three times. AJ Putty plated two and tallied a hit for the fourth straight game, while Cameron Chee-Aloy and Jack Zebig accounted for the Illini's other two RBI.
Ben Plumley secured the win for the Illini, his first of the season, going 5.1 innings while striking out five. Reed Gannon came in in relief, tossing a career-high 3.2 innings while totaling four strikeouts and only one run allowed.
The Rams opened the scoring in the first, and the Orange and Blue got on the board for the first time in the fifth on Warehime's two-run home run.
Contreras connected on his second homer of the season in the sixth, which tied the game. Three batters later, Illinois went in front for the first time on Putty's RBI single before Chee-Aloy plated another on a sac fly. Ultimately, six of the first seven batters reached in the frame, giving the Illini a 5-3 advantage.
After Plumley and Gannon combined to toss a scoreless sixth, Illinois added to its lead in the seventh. With runners on second and third, Putty hit a sac fly to drive in a run before Zebig brought home another on his RBI single. Warehime then hit his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, to extend the Illini edge to 9-3.
Gannon closed out the contest on the mound, allowing only one run the rest of the way en route to the Orange and Blue triumph.
GAME NOTES
- Cole Warehime went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI
- Registered the first two home runs of his Illini career.
- Has multiple hits in back-to-back games.
- Scored his first two runs of the season.
- Michael Farina finished 1-for-5 at the plate.
- Has a hit in four of his first five games as an Illini.
- Daniel Contreras went 2-for-5 with a home run.
- Has a hit in four straight games.
- Had multiple hits for the second time this season.
- Hit his second home run of the season.
- Kyle Schupmann posted a 1-for-4 outing with two runs scored.
- Extended his on-base streak to 16 games.
- Has a hit in four straight games.
- Has scored in all five games thus far this season.
- Scored multiple runs for the second time.
- Collin Jennings went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Posted his second consecutive multi-hit game.
- Scored multiple runs for the second time this season.
- AJ Putty went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.
- Has a hit in four straight games.
- Drove in multiple runs for the second straight game and for the third time overall.
- Jack Zebig went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Scored multiple runs for the first time this season.
- Ben Plumley earned the win, going 5.1 innings and striking out five.
- Secured his first victory of the season.
- Marked a new season-high in innings pitched and strikeouts.
- Reed Gannon tossed 3.2 innings with four strikeouts.
- His 3.2-inning appearance was a career-high.
- Tied his career-high with four strikeouts.
- Illinois has now logged 10+ hits in four straight games.
UP NEXT
Illinois continues its time at Baseball at the Beach with a Saturday doubleheader. The Illini will take on the Rams for a rematch at 10 a.m. CT before clashing with host No. 6 Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m. CT. The contest against the ranked Chanticleers from Springs Brooks Stadium will be streamed on ESPN+.
