Wow! What a weekend! A no-hitter to clinch a a sweep!
One weekend, after losing two games against Purdue, the Illini swept the Boilermakers three games culminating with a historic no-hitter on Sunday.
Illinois starting pitching was strong with Andrew Hoffmann and Nate Lavender both getting victories. Ironically, Riley Gowens who pitched seven no-hit innings on Sunday, did not get a win. That was reserved for reliever Ryan O’Hara.
With the sweep, Illinois is 13-14 and two spots higher than last week.
Friday
 | Illinois | 6 |
 | Purdue | 5 |
Andrew Hoffmann pitched six scoreless innings giving up just one hit. And yes, he did earn the win, his first for the Illini.
Kellen Sarver got things going for the Illni with a solo shot in the second. They scored two more in the fourth keyed by a rbi double by Jackson Raper. Sarver drove home another in the 9th on a sac fly.
Purdue did make things close with a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth but the good guys held on for the win.
Saturday
| Illinois | 12 |
| Purdue | 4 |
Illinois scored five runs in the first two innings then added six in the ninth for good measure. Branden Comia drove in three runs on a solo homer and 2-run base hit. Jackson Raper also plated three runs on a ninth inning double.
Once again, Nate Lavender clocked in with a solid start. He allowed three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings while striking out six. That gives him a team-leading five wins. Ty Rybarczyk pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for his second save of 2021.
Sunday
| Illinois | 1 |
| Purdue | 0 |
Here’s the proof of today’s historic moment per WDWS’ Scott Beatty’s scoresheet:
What can we say about record-breaking Sunday? Riley Gowens pitched seven hitless and scoreless innings against the Boilermakers. Yet, when Ryan O’Hara replaced him in the top of the eighth, the score was still 0-0.
O’Hara got through the eighth with no damage done thanks to a bang-bang double play in which he made the putout at home plate.
It seems each team was doing what it could to score just one run. With Branden Comia on third, Kellen Sarver laid down a sac bunt and successfully got the run in.
Cole Kirschsieper pitched a scoreless (and hitless!) ninth for the win, shutout and no-hitter.
Congratulations to the Illini and more specifically, Riley Gowens, Ryan O’Hara (who got the win), and Cole Kirchsieper on the historic moment!
Random Ramblings
According to FightingIllini.com, Sunday’s no-hitter was the 11th no-hitter and the first since April 24, 1985. Sunday’s no-hitter was the third thrown on April 25th.
Time to edit the Illini Baseball Record book
Coach Hartleb’s thoughts on the no-hitter and the weekend in general:
The thing that’s so impressive for me is that you play Purdue last week two games on Sunday and Monday and they stuck it to us. Then, we turn around and come in here and sweep them three games. Our bullpen has really struggled, and the bullpen was outstanding this entire weekend. I told Adam Christ before the game ‘you know what, we may get beat today, but as I watch batting practice and what we’re doing everyone has gotten better’. That’s a testament to the type of guys we have and the toughness they have. We have pushed them, and it hasn’t been easy. We have a long way to go, but I’m really proud of the group and like what I’m seeing as far as us progressing.
This was a key series for the Illini as Purdue sat just a half game below them before the weekend started. Now that Illinois have executed a sweep so well, they can now barely see the Boilermakers in the rear-view mirror.
Well done, team!
Next up
Next weekend, Illinois will participate in their third and last pod weekend at Northwestern. In addition to playing the Wildcats, the Illini will be taking on Michigan.