It ain’t over till it’s over.
Yogi Berra
One thing that can be said about the 2021 season is that nothing is for sure until the last out is made. In each of the three games against Nebraska this weekend, Illinois had the lead. Unfortunately, they finished out the series with one win. Illinois won a topsy-turvy game 10-8 on Saturday.
Each of these games could gone Illinois’ way. That’s not to take anything away from the Huskers; they could have easily won Saturday’s game as well.
No doubt about it, it was some exciting baseball this weekend. Illinois now has a 8-10 record and has slid down to tenth place in the Big Ten standings.
Friday
 | Nebraska | 8 |
 | Illinois | 6 |
Shades of the Wildcats win the weekend before, the Illini took the lead twice in Friday’s game before the bullpen ran out of gas. Nebraska scored three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to clinch the win.
Big hitters Branden Comia and Justin Janas combined for five hits.
Starter Nate Lavender (above) pitched well. Aside for a solo homer, he kept the Huskers scoreless and struck out six in four innings.
Fighting Illini recap | Illinois Baseball Report photo gallery
Saturday
| Nebraska | 8 |
| Illinois | 10 |
Ryan Hampe was touted as the big hero on Saturday as he hit the game-winning homer. When a team wins 10-8, you know a lot goes into that win. Justin Janas contributed three hits and Jackson Raper’s early homerun set the tone for the game.
Cam McDonald collected three hits and drove in three runs.
Aidan Maldonado only pitched for two outs but he got Illinois out of a big jam. Jack Crowder got the big win, his first as an Illini.
Fighting Illini recap | Illinois Baseball Report photo gallery
Sunday
| Nebraska | 12 |
| Illinois | 7 |
Illinois started out on Sunday with a 5-0 lead. I should have known better to breathe a sigh of relief. Nebraska powered out seven runs in the sixth inning.
The top three in the lineup, Taylor Jackson, Jackson Raper and Branden Comia all hit safely three times. Both Comia and Raper hit homers.
Andrew Pogue was the one Illini hurler who remained untouched by Husker bats on Sunday. He kept Nebraska bats hitless in 1 1/3 innings.
Fighting Illini recap | Illinois Baseball Report photo gallery
Random Ramblings
I have to say the Nebraska fans (mostly parents, I’m sure) are die-hard. They filled the visitors’ section of the Illinois Field stands and had to drive a long way to get there.
Watching the series this past weekend, I’ve noticed that the Illini players in the dugout seem to be more interactive. During the game, they are chattering away, whooping it up and more importantly, keeping the morale up. I’ve been following the team since 2006 and some years, the team has been a little quiet and others have it going on. In 2021, this team is in the game! Cam McDonald (above right) is a big instigator in this process. He never gives up. As I listen to him as he comes in from the field, he’s already yelling encouragements to his teammates.
This may be a factor of team chemistry or peer coaching. Perhaps they are more comfortable doing so with a limited audience. Personally, I love it and I hope it continues. It can only bode well for the future.
Branden Comia certainly has it going on, too. He went 7 for 13 for the weekend and is now hitting .403! Not only is his 36-game on-base streak intact but he also has an eleven-game hit streak. All that while playing solid defense at shortstop. I hesitate to put any Illini up on a pedestal because the most successful Illinois teams I have seen are the ones which EVERY player contribute. That said, Branden is a force to be reckoned.
Next up
Sunday’s game was the last in this homestand. On Friday, they travel to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers who are spittin’ distance of now first place Nebraska Huskers.
Illinois return to Illinois Field on April 16th for another pod series.