Local News

Illini Baseball Downs University of Chicago in Home Opener

On Opening Day at Illinois Field, No. 19 Illinois scored seven runs in the first six innings and cruised past Chicago State, 7-3. Starter Rob McDonnell nabbed his first win of the year with six shutout stanzas, while the offense totaled 14 hits, led by Reid Roper and Adam Walton with three hits apiece.

 width=Illinois (12-3-1) boasts its best record after 16 games under 10th-year head coach Dan Hartleb and since 1989 (13-3) when the Illini eventually started 18-3 under Augie Garrido. The Illini also improved to 8-2 in home openers under Hartleb.

Roper finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a pair of runs. Pat McInerney was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run. Casey Fletcher finished with a pair of runs.

McDonnell scattered five hits, struck out four and didn't walk anybody over his six solid innings. Redshirt-freshman Doug Hayes allowed two runs in the seventh, while junior Nick Blackburn worked the final two innings, as the Cougars put one more on the board.

No. 19 Illinois will welcome Southern Illinois to Champaign for a three-game series this weekend (March 13-15) at Illinois Field.

Information courtesy of fightingillini.com

Townhall Top of the Hour News

Local Weather - Sponsored By:

CLINTON WEATHER

Local News

DeWittDN on Facebook