Local Sports

Illinois, Illinois State Win Sunday

Dan Rowbottom hit a three-run home run Sunday to help the Illinois baseball team get a 7-5 win at No. 18 Michigan. 
 
The Illini jumped to a 6-0 lead and held on for their first win of the weekend.
 
Illinois (11-18, 1-5 Big Ten) used three freshmen and a sophomore to earn its second win over a ranked opponent this season. Freshman starter Cyrillo Watson gave the Illini four innings, while allowing five runs, before freshman Ryan Thompson went a career-long 3 1/3 innings of shutout work. Thompson allowed just two hits through the middle innings before giving way to Ryan Schmitt, who got a big strikeout to end the eighth with two runners on.
 
The Illini opened its big lead with two runs in the second inning and Rowbottom's three-run homer in the third. Illinois' first two runs came when Trent Hammond laid down a safety squeeze that turned into a bunt single plus an error. Ben Troike added an RBI fielder's choice two batters later.
 
Michael Massey and Pat McInerney led the offense with three hits apiece. Massey added an RBI double in the seventh to plate an insurance run.
 
Michigan scored four runs in the third inning, led by two-RBI hits from Johnny Slater and Drew Lugbauer. Slater finished with three of the Wolverine's nine hits.
 
The Illini are on the road Tuesday at Illinois State.
 
>>Sunday Win Sends Redbirds To Series Victory Over Dayton
 
A strong starting pitching effort from Brent Headrick and timely hitting helped the Illinois State baseball team to a 7-2 victory and a series win over Dayton Sunday at Duffy Bass Field.
 
Headrick allowed just two runs over six innings, while striking out three before giving way to Jack Landwehr, who tossed three scoreless frames to pick up the save. Headrick's win and Landwehr's save were the first of the season for each. 
 
Collin Braithwaite tallied three RBIs for the second game in a row and Joe Butler collected three hits in the win. John Rave tallied two hits and scored two runs, while Noah Sadler added two hits and two RBIs.
 
After splitting the first two games of the three-game series with Dayton, Sunday's win gave the Redbirds a series win in their first weekend series at Duffy Bass Field.
 
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field Tuesday to face in-state rival Illinois on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Illinois State's annual "Stuff the Duff" game.

Townhall Top of the Hour News

Local Weather - Sponsored By:

CLINTON WEATHER

Local News

DeWittDN on Facebook