In game two at McLane Stadium, No. 17 Illinois fell 5-2 to Michigan State on Sunday. Senior David Kerian hit his team-high sixth home run in the ninth, but the Illini couldn't complete the comeback. The Spartans evened the series by playing error-free baseball with 11 hits.
Illinois evened it up at 1-apiece in the second inning with a two-out rally. Senior Will Krug doubled down the left field line and came home on redshirt-sophomore Adam Walton's single up the middle.
The Spartans jumped ahead 4-1 with three runs in the fifth.
Starter Drasen Johnson was charged with four runs in six innings, suffering his second loss of the year. Redshirt-senior Rob McDonnell made his first relief appearance with a scoreless seventh, including two strikeouts.
Adam Walton led the Illini offensively with a pair of hits and an RBI.
Illinois and Michigan State will battle for the series victory in the rubber game on Monday at noon CT.
Information courtesy of FightingIllini.com
