Illinois (28-22, 13-15) opened its series at Ohio State (12-36, 4-24) with 4-3 victory Thursday at Bill Davis Stadium.

Tyler Schmitt improved to 5-2 on the season by tossing his fourth quality start of the campaign. The junior went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits to go along with five strikeouts. Zach Bates earned his eighth save of the year by stranding one of two inherited runners in the ninth.

Illinois took its first lead of the ballgame in the eighth when Nick Groves singled home Grant Ross, who led off the inning by being hit by a pitch.

With two outs in the ninth, two Buckeye outfielders collided on fly ball hit by Kyle Schupmann to left center, and he raced around the bases to give the Illini an important insurance run.

Jack Zebig (1-for-3) and Groves (2-for-5) tallied an RBI in the ballgame and Schupmann's little league home run in the ninth would prove to be the game winner.

Illinois pitchers limited Ohio State to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.

The series resumes today in Columbus.