LINCOLN, Neb. – The Illinois baseball team surrendered fives runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to allow Nebraska to come from behind and beat the Fighting Illini, 9-8, Saturday at Hawks Field. Nebraska evened the three-game series with the rubber match set for Sunday at 12:05 p.m. CT.
Nebraska (18-8, 4-1 Big Ten) sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored its five runs off of three Illini relievers. Luis Alvarado homered, Ryan Boldt had a RBI single, Ben Miller plated the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-RBI single and Scott Schreiber added an insurance run with a pop up between home plate and third base that Illinois miscommunicated on and let fall in fair territory.
The miscue that allowed Nebraska's ninth run to score came back to hurt Illinois, as a sac fly by Michael Hurwitz in the top of the ninth inning could have tied the game had the Huskers' lead been held at 8-7. The Illini did get the tying run to second in the ninth, but Adam Walton grounded out to end the game off of Nebraska closer Chad Leunsmann.
Illinois (11-13, 3-2 Big Ten) jumped to a 7-1 lead with a run in the first and three-run innings in the fifth and sixth. Freshmen Doran Turchin and Jack Yalowitz combined for six RBIs before Nebraska scored eight of the game's final nine runs.
Yalowitz tripled off the right center field wall to drive in two in the fifth, before Turchin followed with a sac fly. Turchin laced a two-out double down the third base line to score three more Illini runs in the next inning, setting a career high with his fourth RBI.
Doug Hayes turned in his third straight quality start, allowing two runs on five hits in 6.0 innings. Hayes left with a 7-2 lead, but the bullpen allowed seven runs on seven hits in the final 2.0 innings.
Nebraska had five players get multiple hits, including Miller who had two hits and three RBIs and Jake Meyers, who singled twice and doubled. Meyers was 3 for 5 despite making two outs in the eighth.
Garett King (3-1) earned the win by shutting out Illinois in 2.1 innings of relief.
The Illini and Huskers are each slated to throw freshman right-handers tomorrow. Cole Bellair is expected to face off against Nebraska's Matt Waldron (4-1, 3.13) at 12:05 p.m. CT.
