Illinois Records Ranked Road Win With 14-5 Victory At #6 Coastal Carolina

CONWAY, S.C. – Illinois secured its first ranked victory of the season with a 14-5 road win over No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The Fighting Illini offense exploded for a season-high 14 runs and 17 hits, with six Illini hitters registering multiple hits. The triumph marked head coach Dan Hartleb's 600th of his collegiate managerial career.

Freshman AJ Putty highlighted the offensive dominance with five hits, including four for extra bases, and seven RBI. His grand slam in the first inning was the second home run of his career, while he finished the day with 11 total bases.

Kyle Schupmann secured a 3-for-5 day at the plate while scoring three runs, while Will Johannes went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

Nick Groves, Michael Farina, and Daniel Contreras all tallied two hits on the day.

Regan Hall recorded the win on the mound during his 5.1 innings of work, while Kyle Remington tossed 3.2 innings of one-hit, shutout ball in relief en route to the save. 

The Illini saw their five batters of the day reach base, which gave the visitors a quick lead. With the bases loaded, Putty posted the second home run of his collegiate career, which came in the form of a grand slam, to establish a 6-0 lead. The Orange and Blue ultimately sent 12 hitters to the plate in the frame, including the first seven reaching successfully, en route to an early 7-0 edge.

After the Chanticleers scored once in the bottom of the first, the Illinois offense put up another big inning in the second. A two-run double from Putty pushed the Illini edge to 9-1 before Johannes connected on his third home run of the season to lengthen the lead to double digits. The visitors scored five runs in the frame to take a 12-1 edge.

The hosts accounted for the game's next four runs before Putty plated his seventh run of the game on his RBI double in the seventh, his fifth hit of the afternoon.

Illinois added one more run in the seventh before Remington closed out the game on the mound.

GAME NOTES

• AJ Putty went 5-for-6 with three doubles, a grand slam, and seven RBI.
  • Set career-highs in hits, doubles, RBI, runs scored, and total bases.
  • Marked the first five-hit game since Camden Janik on May 19, 2023, versus UT Martin.
    • His five hits are tied for the most by a Big Ten player thus far this season.
  • Posted the most doubles by an Illini since Vytas Valincius also had three doubles against Indiana on April 13, 2025.
    • His three doubles are tied for the most by a Big Ten player thus far this season.
  • Hit the Illini's first grand slam since April 15, 2025.
  • His seven RBI are the most by an Illini since Vytas Valincius had seven against Indiana on April 13, 2025.
    • His five hits are tied for the second-most by a Big Ten player thus far this season.
  • Finished with 11 total bases.
    • The most by an Illini since April 30, 2024 (Ryan Moerman (13) vs. No. 24 Indiana State.
• Nick Groves went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
  • Reached base four times.
  • Extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
  • Has multiple hits in four games this season.
• Michael Farina finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
  • Has reached base in each of his first seven games as an Illini.
  • Has multiple hits in three games.
• Daniel Contreras went 2-for-6.
  • Has multiple hits in three games.
    • Has a hit in six of the last seven games.
  • Has reached base successfully in six straight games.
• Collin Jennings went 1-for-5.
  • Has a hit in each of the last five games.
• Kyle Schupmann collected a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
  • Extended his on-base streak to 18 games.
  • Tied his career-high and season-best with three hits.
  • Has multiple hits in two games and has at least one in six of the last seven games.
• Will Johannes went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a home run.
  • Hit his third home run of the season and the seventh of his Illini career.
  • Has multiple hits in two games this season.
  • Has driven in multiple runs four times this season.
• Cole Crafton made his collegiate debut, drawing a walk in a pinch-hit situation.
• Regan Hall went 5.1 innings while striking out three en route to the win.
  • Secured his first win of the season and the 11th of his career.
• Kyle Remington went 3.2 innings in relief with four strikeouts.
  • Marked a new season-best strikeout total.
• Illinois secured its first ranked victory since April 30, 2024, when Illinois defeated No. 24 Indiana State.
• The Illini earned their first ranked road win since Feb. 26, 2023, when Illinois defeated No. Southern Miss away from home.
  • Marked the Illini's first top-10 road win since March 8, 2015, when Illinois defeated No. 10 Oklahoma State.
  • Marked the Illini's highest ranked road win since March 8, 2009, when Illinois defeated No. 1 LSU.
• Illinois' 14 runs and 17 hits both marked new season-highs.
• The win marked head coach Dan Hartleb's 600th at the helm of the program.

UP NEXT

Illinois returns to action next weekend at the First Pitch Invitational in Greenville, S.C. The Illini will take on Michigan State, Charleston, and Albany during the three-day event at the Greenville Drive's Fluor Field.