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Illinois baseball: Recap of the Illini series with Nebraska

By David Carey

Omaha, NE - JUNE 24: A general view of a baseball and glove in the the field, prior to game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Michigan Wolverines and Vanderbilt Commodores on June 24, 2019 at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 24: A general view of a baseball and glove in the the field, prior to game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Michigan Wolverines and Vanderbilt Commodores on June 24, 2019 at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Illinois baseball team took one of the three games in their series against Nebraska over the weekend, falling to 8-10 on the season.

Game 1: Loss 8-6

The Illini offense looked good in this game and, quite frankly, the whole weekend. Shortstop Brandon Comia led the way going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. He was able to extend his on-base streak to a whopping 34 games. 

Nathan Lavender was the starting pitcher in the opener of the series. Lavender looked solid, going four innings with six strikeouts and only one earned run. Reliever Ryan Kutt took the loss, letting up three runs in just one inning of relief.

Game 2: Win 10-8

The offense looked even better in this one, scoring 10 runs and going 16-for-39 at the plate. Comia was once again in the spotlight, going 2-for-5. Justin Janas and Ryan Hampe had three hits apiece with six combined runs. In fact, all but one starter got a hit in this one, as the offense was all over the Cornhuskers pitching.

Ty Rybarczyk was the starting pitcher in game two, going 5.2 innings but let up six runs. The Illinois baseball team stretched him to 98 pitches by the time they called on the bullpen. Freshman Jack Crowder earned the win in relief, continuing his stretch of dominance. He went 1.1 innings and struck out three.

Game 3: Loss 12-7

Comia was on fire during the series and finished the three-game set out well, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs in this game. Third basemen Jackson Raper went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the top of the order really carried the Illinois offense. The number 1-3 hitters in the lineup accounted for six of the 10 hits the Illini accumulated in the afternoon bout. If the Illini want to win games, they need the bottom of the order to step up.

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Riley Gowens was the starter in this one and looked solid, going 3.2 innings and only let up two earned runs, four strikeouts, and zero walks. Gowens, who was hurt last season, will most likely be limited with his pitch count throughout the year. It wasn’t until Cole Kirschsieper came in relief that things started to unravel. Kirschsieper pitched two innings and let up seven runs, ultimately taking the loss.

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