CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Illinois baseball team began its 143rd season Friday, dropping the season opener to Kansas, 4-2. Sophomore LHP Cole Kirschsieper was dominant on the mound, striking out a career-high eight batters while giving up just three hits and one run in seven innings of work.
Illinois (0-1) took the lead in the third inning on a two-out error, allowing sophomore outfielder Danny Doligale to score the first run of the season. In the bottom half of the seventh, Illinois plated another run on a bases-loaded error to take a 2-1 lead with just one out, but were unable to add on to their lead heading into the eighth.
The Illini bullpen issued three walks in two innings, allowing Kansas (1-0) to take the lead in the eighth inning. An RBI-double in the top half of the ninth extended the Jayhawks' lead to 4-2.
Illinois is back Saturday at Whataburger Field for the second game of this weekend's three game series against Kansas as sophomore Jack Wenninger will get his first start in an Illini uniform. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
Notes
• Cole Kirschsieper registered a new career-high 8 strikeouts.
• Tyler Thompson earned his first career start for the Illini at DH.
