WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Illinois baseball (2-2) closed out the opening weekend of the 2024 campaign with a dominant 9-1 victory over Fordham (0-3) today at David F. Couch Ballpark.
Regan Hall earned the win in his collegiate debut, twirling 6.0 innings of one-run ball, picking up nine strikeouts along the way to earn the quality start. Hall yielded just two hits and only issued one walk. The Albuquerque, N.M., native, began the day with a quick 1-2-3 frame, recording two punchouts, including whiffing the first batter of the game. Hall allowed a solo homer in the second but retired 14 of his final 16 batters faced.
Cal Hejza went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI and Coltin Quagliano 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Cameron Chee-Aloy and Ryan Moerman provided the power, with duo hitting solo home runs in the sixth and ninth innings, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams were first on the board on the second after a solo home run, but the Illini would grab the lead for good in the home half of the third. Jacob Schroeder led off with a single and came around to score on Hejza's RBI-single. Illinois would go in front after Chee-Aloy raced home on a passed ball to make it 2-1.
Working with the lead, Hall struck out two batters in each of his last 3.0 innings, keeping Fordham from generating any offensive threat. Quagliano added to the Illinois lead in the fifth with an RBI-groundout to make it 3-1.
The Orange and Blue broke the game wide open in the sixth, with Moerman crushing an opposite-field blast to begin the frame, his first home run of the season, making it 4-1. The Illini then loaded the bases and Hejza brought home the second run of the inning with his second RBI-single of the contest. Chee-Aloy scored on an error and Quagliano followed with a double down the left field line, scoring two and making it 8-1.
Jake Swartz was first out of the bullpen for the Illini, firing 3.0 shutout innings to earn the save. Swartz amassed three strikeouts and did not allow a hit.
Illinois capped the scoring in the ballgame when Chee-Aloy began the ninth with a solo shot to left center for his third home run of the weekend.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Conway, S.C., where they will take on No. 18 Coastal Carolina and Ball State on Friday before a showdown against Cincinnati on Saturday. First pitches for all three contests are scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 11 a.m. CT, respectively.
GAME NOTES
» Regan Hall earned the win in his collegiate and Illini debut.
» 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP
» Had four frames with two strikeouts.
» First-career win and quality start.
» Jake Swartz earned the first save of his career.
» 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
» Cal Hejza went 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI.
» First multi-hit game of the season...has hit safely in three-straight.
» First multi-RBI game of the season.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 1-for-3 with three runs scored, a home run and an RBI.
» Has hit safely in four-straight to begin his career...went 4-for-13 (.308) during opening weekend.
» Homered for the third time in four games...his three home runs are the most among Big Ten hitters.
» Coltin Quagliano went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
» Has hit safely in four-straight...has gone 4-for-15 (.267) to start the season.
» Jayden Comia, Regan Hall, Collin Jennings and Reagan Reeder all made their Illini debuts in the ballgame.
» All nine Illini starters reached base safely in the contest.
» 11 batters overall reached safely in the game.
» The Illinois pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Fordham hitters.
» The pitching staff tallied three double-digit strikeout games over the weekend.
» Three of the four Illinois starting pitchers this weekend struck out nine batters.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Rams at an 8-2 clip.
» Illinois out-hit its opponents in three of four games this weekend.
» The Illini held their opponents to just six hits combined in the last two games, the fewest allowed in a two-game span since allowing five from March 8-9, 2019.
» Illinois pitchers faced 31 Fordham hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Fordham pitching.
Regan Hall earned the win in his collegiate debut, twirling 6.0 innings of one-run ball, picking up nine strikeouts along the way to earn the quality start. Hall yielded just two hits and only issued one walk. The Albuquerque, N.M., native, began the day with a quick 1-2-3 frame, recording two punchouts, including whiffing the first batter of the game. Hall allowed a solo homer in the second but retired 14 of his final 16 batters faced.
Cal Hejza went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI and Coltin Quagliano 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Cameron Chee-Aloy and Ryan Moerman provided the power, with duo hitting solo home runs in the sixth and ninth innings, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams were first on the board on the second after a solo home run, but the Illini would grab the lead for good in the home half of the third. Jacob Schroeder led off with a single and came around to score on Hejza's RBI-single. Illinois would go in front after Chee-Aloy raced home on a passed ball to make it 2-1.
Working with the lead, Hall struck out two batters in each of his last 3.0 innings, keeping Fordham from generating any offensive threat. Quagliano added to the Illinois lead in the fifth with an RBI-groundout to make it 3-1.
The Orange and Blue broke the game wide open in the sixth, with Moerman crushing an opposite-field blast to begin the frame, his first home run of the season, making it 4-1. The Illini then loaded the bases and Hejza brought home the second run of the inning with his second RBI-single of the contest. Chee-Aloy scored on an error and Quagliano followed with a double down the left field line, scoring two and making it 8-1.
Jake Swartz was first out of the bullpen for the Illini, firing 3.0 shutout innings to earn the save. Swartz amassed three strikeouts and did not allow a hit.
Illinois capped the scoring in the ballgame when Chee-Aloy began the ninth with a solo shot to left center for his third home run of the weekend.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Conway, S.C., where they will take on No. 18 Coastal Carolina and Ball State on Friday before a showdown against Cincinnati on Saturday. First pitches for all three contests are scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 11 a.m. CT, respectively.
GAME NOTES
» Regan Hall earned the win in his collegiate and Illini debut.
» 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP
» Had four frames with two strikeouts.
» First-career win and quality start.
» Jake Swartz earned the first save of his career.
» 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
» Cal Hejza went 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI.
» First multi-hit game of the season...has hit safely in three-straight.
» First multi-RBI game of the season.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 1-for-3 with three runs scored, a home run and an RBI.
» Has hit safely in four-straight to begin his career...went 4-for-13 (.308) during opening weekend.
» Homered for the third time in four games...his three home runs are the most among Big Ten hitters.
» Coltin Quagliano went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
» Has hit safely in four-straight...has gone 4-for-15 (.267) to start the season.
» Jayden Comia, Regan Hall, Collin Jennings and Reagan Reeder all made their Illini debuts in the ballgame.
» All nine Illini starters reached base safely in the contest.
» 11 batters overall reached safely in the game.
» The Illinois pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Fordham hitters.
» The pitching staff tallied three double-digit strikeout games over the weekend.
» Three of the four Illinois starting pitchers this weekend struck out nine batters.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Rams at an 8-2 clip.
» Illinois out-hit its opponents in three of four games this weekend.
» The Illini held their opponents to just six hits combined in the last two games, the fewest allowed in a two-game span since allowing five from March 8-9, 2019.
» Illinois pitchers faced 31 Fordham hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Fordham pitching.
