4/4/2019 1 Comment Illini BaseballAs the Basketball season came to a disappointing close with a loss to Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten tournament, it leaves only a few Illini sports left for the spring season. One of the better teams in the Illinois athletics program is the baseball team. This year they have been looking solid with a record of 19-8. They recently played a two game series at home against the 19th ranked Costal Carolina, the Illini won both games with a score of 4-2 and 4-1. In the first game the Illini started off hot scoring all four runs in the first inning. The first two runs came from a two run homer by the second baseman Branden Comia. Then the right fielder Jack Yalowitz knocked in Michael Massey with a ground out to the third baseman. In the next at bat Grant Van Scoy, the third baseman, hit a single to allow center fielder Cam McDonald to score. The Illini defense was able to hold off Costal Carolina from scoring until the third inning when Cameron Pearcey hit a double to score one run. Then in the fourth inning Mike Koenig hit a ground out to second base which scored one more run. The rest of the game was scoreless leaving Illinois pitcher Josh Harris with the save putting him 2-1 on the season, and Garrett Acton was awarded his 9th save of the season. The second game of the series got off to an a lot slower start than the first. Coastal Carolina got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning with a ground out to the third baseman by Mike Koening, driving in Zach Biermann to score the first run. The Illini answered quickly in the bottom of the fourth with a single by Jack Yalowitz, which allowed Michael Massey to score. Later in the game in the bottom of the 7th the Illini were able to get another run in on a passed ball by the catcher. Then Massey hit a sacrifice fly to allow another run score. The next inning, Yalowitz was able to score on a fielding error by postal Carolina, which finalized the score at 4-1. Ryan Schmitt was awarded with his third win of the season and Garrett Acton locked in save number 10. This series against a top 20 team was a great bounce back after a tough 3 loses to Iowa in their Big Ten conference opener. The scores of those three games were : 4-8, 1-2, and 1-3. Overall, the series was not up to the standards of the Illini for this season. However, after the Coastal Carolina series the have started to look more like the norm. Next up for the Illini they are playing the Maryland Terrapins, who are 13-14, and looking to get their first conference win. They will be playing a three game series in Champaign from Friday to Sunday. Michael Massey the designated hitter is also looking to keep his twelve game hit streak alive. The Junior has been one of the best hitters in the Big Ten as of lately and currently has a .361 batting average and 15 runs batted in. Hopefully with the help of Massey and the rest of the team, the Illini will be able to make the most of their season and possibly make it to Omaha, Nebraska in the post season where the College World Series is held. A national championship should always be the goal in the end.
1 Comment
Bill Akpan
4/12/2019 05:55:33 am
I can't believe the season is just ending now, it feels like its been a million years. I like how you chose a team that loses a bunch, because it really allows the reader to see the team at its highs and lows. You have a great writing style and it is obvious that this is a topic you are interested in and its not just another thing to write. I like what you did with the graphics, they really conveyed the "intensity" of the game. Great job!
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