LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Illinois baseball (35-20) fell to No. 2 Kentucky (42-14), 6-1, today at Kentucky Proud Park. The loss sends the Illini to loser's bracket of the Lexington Regional.
Payton Hutchings got the start for the Orange and Blue, tossing 5.0 innings of three-run ball, yielding four hits and striking out two. Ben Plumley worked a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
Brody Harding led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the two teams traded scoreless frames to begin the game, the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run homer.
The Illini cut the lead in half in the fourth when Harding singled home Jacob Schroeder with two outs in the inning.
Kentucky got that run back in the fifth to make it 3-1 and would also add a run in the seventh and two more in the ninth to hand Illinois the 6-1 defeat.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini look to stave off elimination from the Lexington Regional when they take on Indiana State tomorrow morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Brody Harding went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
» Has two-out RBI in both games of the Lexington Regional.
» Connor Milton went 1-for-4.
» Has reached base safely in 21-straight games.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4.
» Extended his hitting streak to six games...has gone 10-for-27 (.370) during that span with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.
» Camden Janik had his 33-game on-base streak snapped.
» Payton Hutchings took the loss despite his solid start.
» 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
» Season high in innings pitched
» Ben Plumley worked a scoreless inning in relief.
» Has not allowed an earned run in his last 8.1 innings of work (6 G).
» Illinois pitchers limited Kentucky to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 40 Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five
Payton Hutchings got the start for the Orange and Blue, tossing 5.0 innings of three-run ball, yielding four hits and striking out two. Ben Plumley worked a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
Brody Harding led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the two teams traded scoreless frames to begin the game, the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run homer.
The Illini cut the lead in half in the fourth when Harding singled home Jacob Schroeder with two outs in the inning.
Kentucky got that run back in the fifth to make it 3-1 and would also add a run in the seventh and two more in the ninth to hand Illinois the 6-1 defeat.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini look to stave off elimination from the Lexington Regional when they take on Indiana State tomorrow morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Brody Harding went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
» Has two-out RBI in both games of the Lexington Regional.
» Connor Milton went 1-for-4.
» Has reached base safely in 21-straight games.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4.
» Extended his hitting streak to six games...has gone 10-for-27 (.370) during that span with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.
» Camden Janik had his 33-game on-base streak snapped.
» Payton Hutchings took the loss despite his solid start.
» 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
» Season high in innings pitched
» Ben Plumley worked a scoreless inning in relief.
» Has not allowed an earned run in his last 8.1 innings of work (6 G).
» Illinois pitchers limited Kentucky to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 40 Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five
