>>Illinois Drops Series Finale To Florida Gulf Coast; Wins Series
The Illinois baseball team ended a three-game winning streak Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 loss in the series finale at Florida Gulf Coast. The Fighting Illini were limited to four hits after winning the first two games of the series Friday and Saturday.
Jason Goldstein and junior right fielder Pat McInerney produced runs with RBI groundouts and freshman center fielder Doran Turchin had two hits. Illinois had 22 hits in the first two victories of the series before going cold Sunday.
Andrew Mamlic (0-1) took the loss after running into trouble in the sixth inning. FGCU plated two runs in the sixth to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead and force Mamlic out of the game after allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings pitched.
J.D. Nielsen shut down FGCU over 2.1 innings, which included five strikeouts, and Cole Bellair got two outs in two batters faced to keep the Illini within striking distance. The five strikeouts tied a career high for the 6-foot-6 Nielsen.
Florida Gulf Coast (2-5) was led by Colton Bottomly, Tyler Atwell and Nick Blasucci, who each had two hits. Blasucci hit a double with two outs in the sixth inning to score what stood as the game-winning run.
The Fighting Illini return to Florida next weekend for three games in DeLand, Florida, at the home of Stetson. Illinois will face Central Michigan, the host Hatters and Villanova on consecutive days Friday-Sunday.
>>Redbirds Drop 3 of 4 at Oregon After Sunday Loss
The Illinois State baseball team found itself in a pitcher's duel for the third time in as many days Sunday, but the Redbird offense was unable to provide the support for starter David Meade as Illinois State suffered a 3-1 loss to No. 9 Oregon at PK Park. Illinois State went 1-3 against the Ducks in the four-game series.
The Redbirds scored their only run in the top of the first, but Oregon tied it in the second, took the lead in the sixth and added an insurance run in the eighth.
Illinois State (2-5) was limited to just two hits in the loss. Meade did his part, however, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over 5.1 innings of work. He struck out three.
Oregon starter David Peterson earned the pitching win for the Ducks, allowing just two hits and two walks over eight innings. The only run he allowed was unearned. Oregon closer Stephen Nogosek earned the save, working a clean ninth inning.
Daniel Dwyer and Jean Ramirez collected Illinois State's only hits; Ramirez's hit was a double. Dwyer also drew a walk.
The Redbirds return to action on Friday when they play their first of eight games in Florida, over a nine-day stretch.
