CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team allowed four unearned runs to score in the seventh inning Saturday during an 8-5 loss to Southern Illinois at Illinois Field. The Illini had come from behind to tie the game 4-4 before the fateful seventh.
Illinois (5-10) got to Southern Illinois (10-9) starter Michael Baird early with single runs in the first and second inning to end Baird's perfect 0.00 ERA on the season and build a 2-0 lead. But Baird settled down to finish eight innings on the mound, allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits and three strikeouts without walking a batter. He threw 74 strikes on 106 pitches to move to 4-0 in five starts.
The Illini were led by Jack Yalowitz, who went 3 for 4Â with a home run and two RBIs to increase his season batting average to .419. Yalowitz has back-to-back three-hit games after snapping a 10-game hitting streak three games ago. Casey Dodge added two hits and one RBI.
Ty Weber (1-1) took the loss in 6 1/3 innings of work. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out four.
Ryan Schmitt gave the Illini a chance with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one unearned run in the seventh before retired six of the last seven batters he faced in the eighth and ninth.
Illinois is scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow against Toledo, then Southern Illinois, starting at 11 a.m. CT.
