Kellen Sarver hit a go-ahead two-run double in the ninth inning Sunday and Illinois held on to beat Nebraska 6-5 at Haymarket Park. Illinois won the series 2-1 and has won six of its last seven games.
Illinois (28-14, 8-7 Big Ten) held a 4-0 lead before Nebraska stormed back with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh to tie it 4-4. That set up Sarver for the clutch double to deep right center to give the Illini the lead for good.
Illinois built its lead thanks to Jack Yalowitz's two-run homer in the fourth, which cut through the 15 MPH wind blowing straight in from right field. Michael Massey added an RBI double in the third and Yalowitz also doubled and scored in the sixth on a Michael Michalak single.
Cyrillo Watson started on the mound, allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings while tying his career high in strikeouts with eight. Sean Leland (5-2) was the winner after allowing one run in 1 2/3 innings through the seventh and eighth.
Grant Van Scoy snapped a career-long 24-game reached base streak. Van Scoy hit .377 (34-90) during the 24-game streak with six doubles, one triple, two homers and 13 RBIs.
Illinois has five games next week, starting with a Tuesday game at Southern Illinois. The Illini return home to face Indiana State on Wednesday and host Indiana for three games Friday-Sunday.
