A little over seven weeks ago the Illini swept Southern Illinois in a three-game series — the last game of that series ended with Illinois accumulating 14 runs. Fast forward to Tuesday night, and a poor performance all around, the Illini fell 12-3 against Southern Illinois.

The Illini were tied at two with the Salukis until the sixth inning, when SIU scored one run. They continued with four more in the seventh, and five in the eighth.

“We didn’t do the things we needed to do and Southern just stuck it to us,” said head coach Dan Hartleb to fightingillini.com “We played poorly, that’s all you can say to it.”

Despite the strong time on the mound Illinois has had previously, they had to pull four pitchers out of the bullpen: Ryan Schmitt, Tyler Engel, Jimmy Burnette and catcher David Craan. The Illini allowed 15 baserunners to reach without getting a hit — 12 walks and three hit by pitches. Southern Illinois definitely knows how to work the bases as they are sixth in the nation with 108 steals.

TWEET OF THE GAME

AROUND THE BASES

• FIRST BASE - Zac Taylor tied his career high with three runs scored and has a reached base streak at 15. Taylor also scored all of Illinois runs against Southern Illinois.
• SECOND BASE - Illinois issued a season-high of 15 free passes (12 BB, 3 HBP).
• THIRD BASE - Nathan Lavender pitched his second-longest outing of the season, 3.1 innings — his longest being one in early April against Coastal Carolina at 4.1 innings. Lavender allowed two hits, two runs and one home run before being pulled from the mound, his game ERA coming to 5.40.
• HOME - Jack Yalowitz did not play due to an injury. Yalowitz has tied his career long reached base streak at 13 games.

Up Next

Illinois returns home the rest of this week, with a midweek game on Wednesday vs. Indiana State before welcoming Indiana to Illinois Field for a weekend series.

All four games can be streamed on BTN+.

For vintage inspired, high quality, and well-designed University of Illinois apparel, check out Fourth and Kirby, and look for the TCR Collection while you’re at it!1