Illini Secure In-State Midweek Win Over Western Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois returned to winning ways with a 21-8 victory over Western Illinois on Tuesday night at Illinois Field.

The Illini collected season-highs in runs and hits in the 13-run triumph, while the Orange and Blue pitching staff posted a season-most 13 strikeouts in the win.

Four Illini recorded multi-hit days at the plate, led by AJ Putty, who tallied a 4-for-5 day at the plate while reaching five times, driving in three runs, and scoring three times.

Nick Groves notched three hits and two RBI in the leadoff spot, extending his on-base streak to 27 games, while Will Johannes collected two hits, three runs, and two RBI.

Brayden Mazzacano finished with a career-high four RBI, while J.R. Nelson went 2-for-5 with a season-best three RBI.

On the mound, Sam Mommer earned the win, going three innings and striking out two, while Ike Young totaled four strikeouts in his two innings of work.

Ryan Ohm registered three strikeouts across his two innings, while Liam McKillop and Olivier Martel amassed two strikeouts apiece in their scoreless outings in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

After the Leathernecks opened the scoring in the top half of the first, the Illini responded with seven runs in the home half of the frame. Collin Jennings' team-leading fifth home run of the season and Mazzacano's triple highlighted the inning, which saw Illinois draw four walks and send 10 batters to the plate.

With the Illini holding an 11-7 advantage, the home side tallied five runs on five hits in the sixth inning. Johannes, Mazzacano, Nelson, and Groves all posted RBI in the frame, which extended Illinois' edge to 16-7.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Luke Landrus logged the first RBI of his collegiate career before Kyle Schupmann and Mazzacano lengthened the team's lead to double digits.

Putty's two-run single in the eighth brought the Illini scoring total above 20 runs. 

GAME NOTES

• Nick Groves went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
  • Extended his on-base streak to 27 games.
  • Had a season-high three hits.
    • Tied his Illini career-high.
    • Marked his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
  • Set a new season-high with two RBI.
• Michael Farina finished 0-for-3 but reached on three walks and scored three runs.
  • Has reached base in each of his first 15 games as an Illini.
  • Scored a season-high three runs.
    • Has scored multiple runs in four games.
  • Drew a season-high three walks.
• Daniel Contreras went 1-for-3.
  • Has a hit in eight of the last nine games.
• AJ Putty went 4-for-5 while reaching five times and recording three RBI and three runs.
  • Posted the seventh multi-hit game of his career.
    • Has a hit in eight of the last nine games and in 12 of the last 14.
    • Now has at least four hits in two games this season.
  • Has multiple RBI in eight games.
  • Tied his season/career-high with three runs scored.
    • Scored multiple runs for the third time.
  • Reached base at least five times for the second time.
• Will Johannes went 2-for-3 while reaching three times with three runs and two RBI.
  • Tallied his sixth multi-hit outing of the season.
    • Has two hits in five of the last eight games.
  • Scored a season-high three times.
    • Now has two games this season with multiple runs scored.
  • Has multiple RBI in six games.
• Collin Jennings tallied a 1-for-2 day at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored while reaching three times.
  • Hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
  • Tied his season-high with three RBI.
    • Has multiple RBI in four games.
  • Scored a season-high-tying three runs.
    • Has multiple runs scored in five games.
• Kyle Schupmann went 1-for-3 while reaching three times.
  • Reached at least three times for the fourth time this season.
  • Scored multiple runs for the sixth time.
• Brayden Mazzacano went 1-for-3 with four RBI.
  • Set a new career-high with four RBI.
    • Marked his first RBI this season.
    • Entered the day with one career RBI. 
  • Tallied his second hit of the season/of his career.
  • Scored his second run of the season/of his career.
• J.R. Nelson went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
  • Tied his collegiate career-high and set a new season-best with three RBI.
  • Recorded his first multi-hit game of the season.
• Luke Landrus hit a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh inning.
  • Marked the first RBI of his collegiate career.
  • Was the third hit of his collegiate career.
• Cole Crafton reached base three times in his three plate appearances.
  • Has a hit in back-to-back games.
  • Had a career-high two walks.
  • Scored a career-high three times.
    • Entered the game with zero career runs scored.
    • Scored all three times he reached base.
• Ike Young earned the start, going two innings and striking out four.
  • Made the first start of his collegiate career.
  • Had a career-high four strikeouts.
    • Has multiple strikeouts in two appearances.
  • Tied the longest outing of his career (2.0 innings).
• Sam Mommer tallied the win with his three innings and two strikeouts.
  • Earned the first victory of his Division-I career.
  • Made the longest outing of his Illini career.
    • Has gone multiple innings in three of his four appearances.
  • Has multiple strikeouts in each of his four outings this season.
• Ryan Ohm went 2.0 innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts.
  • Has gone multiple innings in three of his five appearances.
  • Has multiple strikeouts in three outings.
• Liam McKillop threw one scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
  • Has multiple strikeouts in two of his four appearances.
  • Has three scoreless outings this season.
• Olivier Martel entered in the ninth, throwing a shutout frame with two strikeouts.
  • Had a Division-I career-high two strikeouts.
  • Has two scoreless outings this season.
• The Illini scored a season-high 21 runs and recorded a season-high 19 RBI.
  • Marked their most since also scoring 21 runs against No. 24 Indiana State on April 30, 2024.
    • Also marked the last time Illinois had 19 RBI.
• Illinois tied its season-high with 17 hits.
  • Also had 17 hits at No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Feb. 22.
• The Illini drew a season-high 11 walks.
  • Have double-digit walks in two games this season (vs. UAlbany on March 1).
• Illinois' pitching staff posted a season-high 13 strikeouts.
  • Marked the team's most strikeouts since also amassing 13 against Northern Illinois on April 14, 2024.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Illini return to Illinois Field for a three-game Big Ten series against Minnesota, which starts Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Admission is free, while the game will stream on B1G+.