OMAHA, Neb. -- Illinois baseball (30-22) opened the 2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament with a dramatic 6-5 win, in extra innings, over [7] Michigan (33-22) today at Charles Schwab Field.
For the second-straight game, Jacob Schroeder (1-for-5) hit a go-ahead home run in extra innings, this time proving to be the game winner. Drake Westcott (3-for-5) also slugged a solo shot and Kyle Schupmann (1-for-5) drove in two runs on an RBI-single.
Tyler Schmitt turned in a stellar start, working 7.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits to go along with a season-high nine strikeouts. Zach Bates picked up the win in relief, turning in 1.2 scoreless frames, whiffing one batter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini jumped out to a 3-0 to start the game, with Vytas Valincius opening the scoring on a bases-loaded walk and Schupmann following with a two-run single.
Schmitt began his day with a 1-2-3 first and then worked out of a two-on, one-out, jam in the second. The junior worked another clean inning in the third before the Wolverines pushed a run across in the fourth to make it 3-1.
Michigan put some pressure on Schmitt in the fifth when the first two batters of the inning reached safely but the Madison, Wis., native was able to retire the next three hitters to put another zero on the board.
The Wolverines cut the lead to one in the sixth, with Schmitt striking out the side in the inning, but the Orange and Blue restored their two-run advantage in the seventh when Jack Zebig singled home Cameron Chee-Aloy with two outs to make it 4-2.
Schmitt capped his Big Ten Tournament debut with two more punchouts in the seventh to bring his total to nine, surpassing his previous season-high mark of six.
Westcott led off the eighth with a solo blast to center, the 42nd of his Illini career, to make it 5-2, but two homers from Michigan in the bottom of the inning would tie the game at 5-5.
Illinois went down quietly in the top of the ninth and the Wolverines carried that momentum to the plate, loading the bases with just one out. Bates was able to induce a 4-2-3 double play and send the ballgame to extras.
Schroeder started bonus baseball with a big fly to left center to put the Illini back in front 6-5. Bates came back out for the 10th and retired the Wolverines in order to give Illinois the win.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini will be back in action tomorrow, taking on [2] UCLA. The victor of that contest will win Pool B and advance to the single-elimination semifinal round. First pitch from Charles Schwab Field is set for 10 a.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Drake Westcott went 3-for-5 with a run, double, home run and an RBI.
» First game with at least three hits since April 22 at Indiana State.
» Now has 42 home runs in his Illinois career...second-most all-time in program history.
» Third game this season with multiple extra-base hits.
» Jacob Schroeder went 1-for-5 with a run, home run and an RBI.
» Has homered in three-straight games, a career-long streak.
» Has four total home runs during that span.
» Now has 39 home runs in his Illinois career, tied for fourth-most all-time in program history.
» Has seven RBI in his last three games...had just seven RBI in previous 19 games.
» Nick Groves went 2-for-5 with a run, double and a walk.
» Has four two-hit games in his last six.
» Tyler Schmitt took no-decision in his stellar Big Ten Tournament debut.
» 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
» Second-straight quality start and fifth overall in his debut campaign at Illinois.
» Worked at least seven innings for the second-straight start and for the fourth time this season.
» First start this season working on short rest (4 days).
» Racked up a season-high nine strikeouts...previous high was six.
» Most strikeouts by an Illinois pitcher at the Big Ten Tournament since Andy Fisher also had nine on May 24, 2018.
» Issued just one walk, matching his fewest in a start this season (April 25 vs. Purdue)
» Has allowed 4 ER in last 14.0 IP (2.57 ERA) and has recorded 14 strikeouts in those outings.
» Zach Bates improved to 2-2 on the season.
» 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
» Did not allow either of his two inherited runners to score in the ninth.
» The Fighting Illini won their opening game at the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2018.
» Illinois also snapped a five-game losing skid to Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament.
» First win over the Wolverines at the conference tournament since May 23, 2013.
» Head coach Dan Hartleb now has 597 career wins at the helm of Illinois baseball.
» Illinois pitchers limited Michigan to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 43 Michigan hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Fighting Illini drew eight walks from Michigan pitching.
For the second-straight game, Jacob Schroeder (1-for-5) hit a go-ahead home run in extra innings, this time proving to be the game winner. Drake Westcott (3-for-5) also slugged a solo shot and Kyle Schupmann (1-for-5) drove in two runs on an RBI-single.
Tyler Schmitt turned in a stellar start, working 7.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits to go along with a season-high nine strikeouts. Zach Bates picked up the win in relief, turning in 1.2 scoreless frames, whiffing one batter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini jumped out to a 3-0 to start the game, with Vytas Valincius opening the scoring on a bases-loaded walk and Schupmann following with a two-run single.
Schmitt began his day with a 1-2-3 first and then worked out of a two-on, one-out, jam in the second. The junior worked another clean inning in the third before the Wolverines pushed a run across in the fourth to make it 3-1.
Michigan put some pressure on Schmitt in the fifth when the first two batters of the inning reached safely but the Madison, Wis., native was able to retire the next three hitters to put another zero on the board.
The Wolverines cut the lead to one in the sixth, with Schmitt striking out the side in the inning, but the Orange and Blue restored their two-run advantage in the seventh when Jack Zebig singled home Cameron Chee-Aloy with two outs to make it 4-2.
Schmitt capped his Big Ten Tournament debut with two more punchouts in the seventh to bring his total to nine, surpassing his previous season-high mark of six.
Westcott led off the eighth with a solo blast to center, the 42nd of his Illini career, to make it 5-2, but two homers from Michigan in the bottom of the inning would tie the game at 5-5.
Illinois went down quietly in the top of the ninth and the Wolverines carried that momentum to the plate, loading the bases with just one out. Bates was able to induce a 4-2-3 double play and send the ballgame to extras.
Schroeder started bonus baseball with a big fly to left center to put the Illini back in front 6-5. Bates came back out for the 10th and retired the Wolverines in order to give Illinois the win.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini will be back in action tomorrow, taking on [2] UCLA. The victor of that contest will win Pool B and advance to the single-elimination semifinal round. First pitch from Charles Schwab Field is set for 10 a.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Drake Westcott went 3-for-5 with a run, double, home run and an RBI.
» First game with at least three hits since April 22 at Indiana State.
» Now has 42 home runs in his Illinois career...second-most all-time in program history.
» Third game this season with multiple extra-base hits.
» Jacob Schroeder went 1-for-5 with a run, home run and an RBI.
» Has homered in three-straight games, a career-long streak.
» Has four total home runs during that span.
» Now has 39 home runs in his Illinois career, tied for fourth-most all-time in program history.
» Has seven RBI in his last three games...had just seven RBI in previous 19 games.
» Nick Groves went 2-for-5 with a run, double and a walk.
» Has four two-hit games in his last six.
» Tyler Schmitt took no-decision in his stellar Big Ten Tournament debut.
» 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
» Second-straight quality start and fifth overall in his debut campaign at Illinois.
» Worked at least seven innings for the second-straight start and for the fourth time this season.
» First start this season working on short rest (4 days).
» Racked up a season-high nine strikeouts...previous high was six.
» Most strikeouts by an Illinois pitcher at the Big Ten Tournament since Andy Fisher also had nine on May 24, 2018.
» Issued just one walk, matching his fewest in a start this season (April 25 vs. Purdue)
» Has allowed 4 ER in last 14.0 IP (2.57 ERA) and has recorded 14 strikeouts in those outings.
» Zach Bates improved to 2-2 on the season.
» 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
» Did not allow either of his two inherited runners to score in the ninth.
» The Fighting Illini won their opening game at the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2018.
» Illinois also snapped a five-game losing skid to Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament.
» First win over the Wolverines at the conference tournament since May 23, 2013.
» Head coach Dan Hartleb now has 597 career wins at the helm of Illinois baseball.
» Illinois pitchers limited Michigan to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 43 Michigan hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Fighting Illini drew eight walks from Michigan pitching.
