VERO BEACH, Fla. — Illinois baseball (6-5, 0-1) dropped its Big Ten opener to Michigan (7-5, 1-0), 12-7, tonight at Holman Stadium at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex.
Offensively, Grant Ross and Jack Zebig each had two hits and homer in the contest and Coltin Quagliano also had a two-hit game.
Tyler Schmitt took the loss in the start, allowing four runs on three hits over 5.2 innings of work. Reed Gannon turned in a 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, retiring all four batters he faced, three via strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini took a 3-0 lead in the ballgame, thanks to an RBI-groundout from Nick Groves in the third and Ross’ two-run blast in the fourth.
After working out of a two-on, two-out, jam in the first, Schmitt retired the next 10 Wolverines he faced to keep Illinois in front.
Michigan would cut the lead to one with a pair of runs in the fifth and would plate five in top half of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead.
The Orange and Blue got two of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame, through a Quagliano RBI-single and a Cameron Chee-Aloy sacrifice fly, to make it 7-5.
Illinois would get within one when Ross picked up his third RBI of the game with a two-out single, but Michigan would put the game out of reach with four runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to make it 12-6.
Zebig crushed a solo shot in the ninth but it was not enough for Illinois, as they would ultimately fall 12-7.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini are back in action tomorrow as they continue this three-game set vs. Michigan. First pitch from Holman Stadium is set for 3 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Grant Ross went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run, three RBI and a walk.
» Has six RBI in his last three games.
» Jack Zebig went 2-for-3 with four runs scored, a home run, an RBI and a walk.
» Has five multi-hit games in his last six.
» Has scored eight runs in his last three games.
» Has drawn a walk in four-straight games.
» Coltin Quagliano went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
» Reed Gannon worked 1.1 scoreless innings, retiring all four batters he faced.
» Matched his career high with three strikeouts.
» Every Fighting Illini starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Illinois left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Illinois pitchers faced 45 Michigan hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Fighting Illini drew eight walks from Michigan pitching.
