SAUGET, Ill. -- Illinois baseball (12-10) nearly dug its way out of a 9-0 hole but ultimately fell to Missouri (9-14), 11-9, tonight at Grizzlies Ballpark.
The Illini got three home runs from the offense, highlighted by Collin Jennings' grand slam in the sixth. Vytas Valincius homered in the seventh, a two-run shot, and went 2-for-5 in the ballgame. Jacob Schroeder also put together a two-hit game and led off the eighth with a solo blast.
Nine different Illini took the mound in the contest, getting scoreless appearances from Nolan Girard, Jake Swartz, Reed Gannon and Zach Bates.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers jumped out to an early 8-0 advantage, scoring three times in the opening frame before pushing five runs across in the second. Missouri would tally another run in the top half of the sixth to make it 9-0.
After being held to just two hits through the first five innings, the Orange and Blue got themselves back into the game with six runs in the sixth. Grant Ross started the inning with a walk, with Jack Zebig and Kyle Schupmann tallying singles to load the bases. Jennings cleared them with a grand slam, his fourth of the season, to make it 9-4. With two outs, Valincius scored on a wild pitch and Greg LaChance collected an RBI-infield single to make it 9-6.
The Tigers would in the top of the seventh but Valincius' two-run homer in the home half of the frame made it 10-8.
The two sides would trade runs in the eighth, the Illini getting theirs on an opposite-field shot from Schroeder to make it 11-9.
Zebig started the ninth with a walk, giving Illinois three chances with the tying run at the plate, but were unable to get anything going in the inning, taking the 11-9 defeat.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini return to Big Ten play on Friday, when they begin a three-game set at Michigan State at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 2:32 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Vytas Valincius went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, home run and two RBI.
» Seventh two-hit game of the season.
» Has homered twice in his last three games.
» Coltin Quagliano went 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
» Extended his hitting streak to a season-high six games...has gone 8-for-23 (.348) during that span with three doubles and a home run during that span.
» Jacob Schroeder went 2-for-4 with a run, home run and an RBI.
» Has three home runs in his last four games.
» Collin Jennings hit his first-career grand slam tonight.
» Went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and four RBI.
» Extended his career-long hitting streak to eight games...has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBI during that span.
» Nolan Girard worked a scoreless fourth inning.
» Has started his collegiate career with back-to-back scoreless outings.
» Illinois went 4-for-9 (.444) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 42 Missouri hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Missouri pitching.
The Illini got three home runs from the offense, highlighted by Collin Jennings' grand slam in the sixth. Vytas Valincius homered in the seventh, a two-run shot, and went 2-for-5 in the ballgame. Jacob Schroeder also put together a two-hit game and led off the eighth with a solo blast.
Nine different Illini took the mound in the contest, getting scoreless appearances from Nolan Girard, Jake Swartz, Reed Gannon and Zach Bates.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers jumped out to an early 8-0 advantage, scoring three times in the opening frame before pushing five runs across in the second. Missouri would tally another run in the top half of the sixth to make it 9-0.
After being held to just two hits through the first five innings, the Orange and Blue got themselves back into the game with six runs in the sixth. Grant Ross started the inning with a walk, with Jack Zebig and Kyle Schupmann tallying singles to load the bases. Jennings cleared them with a grand slam, his fourth of the season, to make it 9-4. With two outs, Valincius scored on a wild pitch and Greg LaChance collected an RBI-infield single to make it 9-6.
The Tigers would in the top of the seventh but Valincius' two-run homer in the home half of the frame made it 10-8.
The two sides would trade runs in the eighth, the Illini getting theirs on an opposite-field shot from Schroeder to make it 11-9.
Zebig started the ninth with a walk, giving Illinois three chances with the tying run at the plate, but were unable to get anything going in the inning, taking the 11-9 defeat.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini return to Big Ten play on Friday, when they begin a three-game set at Michigan State at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 2:32 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Vytas Valincius went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, home run and two RBI.
» Seventh two-hit game of the season.
» Has homered twice in his last three games.
» Coltin Quagliano went 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
» Extended his hitting streak to a season-high six games...has gone 8-for-23 (.348) during that span with three doubles and a home run during that span.
» Jacob Schroeder went 2-for-4 with a run, home run and an RBI.
» Has three home runs in his last four games.
» Collin Jennings hit his first-career grand slam tonight.
» Went 1-for-4 with a run, home run and four RBI.
» Extended his career-long hitting streak to eight games...has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBI during that span.
» Nolan Girard worked a scoreless fourth inning.
» Has started his collegiate career with back-to-back scoreless outings.
» Illinois went 4-for-9 (.444) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 42 Missouri hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Missouri pitching.
