The Illini seemed to have the the much-anticipated Baylor series quite in hand as they won both games on Saturday sweeping the Bears for the weekend. That puts Illinois at 10-4 for the season and at the top of the Big Ten conference. Since the first weekend of the season when they went 1-3, they’ve won nine of ten games.
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It was a tight one in Game #1 on Saturday. Baylor pulled ahead by a run in the fourth 
inning making in 4-3. It stayed that way till Thomas Lindauer hit a solo homer to tie the game in the top of the 7th. Freshman Tyler Jay came on the eighth inning and held the Bears to just one hit while striking out four in 3 1/3 innings while the game went into extras. It was another freshman, Ryan Nagle, who made the difference from the plate. Nagle (left) got the winning hit driving home Brandon Hohl.
Jay got his first win of the year for his effort. Reid Roper came on for the last two outs to get his third save of the year.
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Game #2 was pretty much all Illini. The good guys came out of the gate ready to hit and sophomore hurler John Kravetz came to pitch. Illinois scored a quick three runs in the first inning keyed by a Thomas Lindauer 2-run single. With the way, Kravetz was pitching, that would really be all they need. the sophomore went 8 innings giving up just three hits.
For good measure, Will Krug drove home a run in the sixth with a basehit. Jordan Parr thought one more wouldn’t hurt so he led off the ninth with his 3rd homer of the year.
Random Ramblings
Before this weekend, Illinois had only won two games on their opponent’s home turf. All other wins were on neutral territory. That doesn’t seem to be an issue now.
Great effort all around! Offensively, Will Krug continues to thrive in the leadoff spot. He went 6 for 10. Thomas Lindauer played a key role in both games totaling three rbis.
And not only did John Kravetz have a superb game but the Illini bullpen combined for seven shutout innings giving up just two hits! According to Illinois Baseball’s Twitter feed, the pitchers held Baylor batters to a .176 batting average for the series and combined for a 1.86 ERA.
Next up: Next weekend, the Illini are coming back to Illinois! Ok, maybe not Illinois Field but at least the state of Illinois. This coming weekend, they will be playing a four game set against the Salukis of Southern Illinois University. Take note that Sunday’s game is going to be played in Rent One park at Marion, Illinois. That’s the home of the Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners
Don’t look down, Illinois!