CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois baseball (3-5) played long ball in today's home opener, slugging four home runs in a 12-2 victory over Eastern Illinois (1-6) at Illinois Field.
Drake Westcott picked up his first multi-home run effort of the season, going 3-for-4 with three runs, a pair of dingers, four RBI and a walk. Camden Janik had a three-hit performance of his own, going 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a home run and three RBI.
Cooper Omans earned the win in his first start in front of the home fans, working 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six. Will Lavin, Korey Bunselmeyer and Evan Clark all worked 1.0 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini jumped out to a 3-0 in the first after Westcott went the opposite way for his first home run of the contest, a three-run shot with two outs. Illinois would double the lead in the second, with Asher Bradd bringing home Cameron Chee-Aloy with a sacrifice fly and Janik bringing home a pair with a double to make it 6-0.
Westcott made it 8-0 in the fifth with his second homer of the game, a two-run blast to right center. Janik launched a solo shot in the sixth to make it 9-0. Collin Jennings' sacrifice fly and Brody Harding's RBI-single in the seventh made it an 11-0 game.
Jacob Schroeder came off the bench to pinch hit in the eighth and crushed a solo home run for his first of the season, capping the scoring in the game for the Orange and Blue.
The Panthers would score twice in the ninth but Payton Hutchings would finish the game and give the Illini the 12-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Drake Westcott went 3-for-4 with three runs, two home runs, four RBI and a walk.
» First Illini to have multiple home runs in a game this season.
» Had three such games last year.
» First multi-hit effort of the season.
» Drew his team-leading seventh walk of the season.
» Camden Janik went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Third-multi hit effort of the season...has hit safely in four-straight games.
» Brody Harding went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
» First multi-hit game of the season.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.
» Has hit safely in all eight games this season...is batting 8-for-28 (.286) with a .982 OPS.
» Cooper Omans earned his first win of the season in his home debut.
» 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
» Held the Panthers to 1-for-7 with RISP.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Panthers at a 12-8 clip.
» Illinois went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 38 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Eastern Illinois pitching.
Drake Westcott picked up his first multi-home run effort of the season, going 3-for-4 with three runs, a pair of dingers, four RBI and a walk. Camden Janik had a three-hit performance of his own, going 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a home run and three RBI.
Cooper Omans earned the win in his first start in front of the home fans, working 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six. Will Lavin, Korey Bunselmeyer and Evan Clark all worked 1.0 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini jumped out to a 3-0 in the first after Westcott went the opposite way for his first home run of the contest, a three-run shot with two outs. Illinois would double the lead in the second, with Asher Bradd bringing home Cameron Chee-Aloy with a sacrifice fly and Janik bringing home a pair with a double to make it 6-0.
Westcott made it 8-0 in the fifth with his second homer of the game, a two-run blast to right center. Janik launched a solo shot in the sixth to make it 9-0. Collin Jennings' sacrifice fly and Brody Harding's RBI-single in the seventh made it an 11-0 game.
Jacob Schroeder came off the bench to pinch hit in the eighth and crushed a solo home run for his first of the season, capping the scoring in the game for the Orange and Blue.
The Panthers would score twice in the ninth but Payton Hutchings would finish the game and give the Illini the 12-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Drake Westcott went 3-for-4 with three runs, two home runs, four RBI and a walk.
» First Illini to have multiple home runs in a game this season.
» Had three such games last year.
» First multi-hit effort of the season.
» Drew his team-leading seventh walk of the season.
» Camden Janik went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Third-multi hit effort of the season...has hit safely in four-straight games.
» Brody Harding went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
» First multi-hit game of the season.
» Cameron Chee-Aloy went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.
» Has hit safely in all eight games this season...is batting 8-for-28 (.286) with a .982 OPS.
» Cooper Omans earned his first win of the season in his home debut.
» 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
» Held the Panthers to 1-for-7 with RISP.
» The Fighting Illini out-hit the Panthers at a 12-8 clip.
» Illinois went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 38 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Eastern Illinois pitching.
