>>Illini Claim First Ever Regional Title
Ryne Roper hit a two-run double and top-seeded Illinois defeated Wright State 8-4 Monday to advance to the Super Regionals.
Sixth-ranked Illinois will face the winner of Monday's Vanderbilt-Radford game.
Roper's double gave the Illini (50-8) a lead it never relinquished in a four-run fifth inning. Will Krug and Ryan Nagle each drove in a run in the inning. It was the 25th come-from-behind win of the season for Illinois.
J.D. Nielsen (3-1) was the winner. Tyler Jay earned his 14th save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out five.
E. J. Trapino took the loss for Wright State (43-17). Sean Murphy and Mark Fowler each drove in two runs for the Raiders.
Wright State manager Greg Lovelady was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing a collision at the plate between Illinois' David Kerian and Raiders catcher Murphy. A half-inning later, Wright State shortstop Mitch Roman also was ejected after making a comment to an umpire about the same incident.
>>Illini To Meet Defending Champs Vanderbilt
Defending champion Vanderbilt was among the 10 programs that advanced in the NCAA baseball tournament on Monday.
Vanderbilt made easy work of the Nashville Regional and clinched their spot with a dominating 21-0 rout of Radford. The Commodores will play Illinois, which won its first regional by defeating Wright State 8-4 in the finale.
