CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The New Orleans Privateers rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning, but Illinois responded with a walk-off single by J.R. Nelson to take the Saturday battle 4-3 at Illinois Field.
A two-out double by Michael Farina set the stage for Nelson who got ahead in the count 3-0. After two straight strikes moved the count full, Farina hit the next pitch toward the left field line to seal the victory for the Fighting Illini.
The Privateers were game throughout as they clawed back on level terms after trailing most of the game.
Jayden Adcox walked with two outs and
Miles Curley ripped a single that hit off the left field wall that put runners on the corners. The Privateers were once again down to their final strike when
Adrian Dominguez hit an infield single that brought in Adcox to tie the score at 3-3.
Saturday marked the third extra inning game the Privateers have played in their last six after going their first 31 games without a contest that extended beyond the scheduled nine innings.
Dylan Biddick got the scoring started with a solo homer off starter, Mitch Dye to give the Privateers an early 1-0 edge. However, Dye settled in after that and retired 16 straight batters at one point in the game.
Illinois got two runs on a fielder's choice when the Privateers were unable to turn what would have been an inning ending double play. Collin Jennings scored and Farina scored on an error that gave the Illini a 2-1 lead.
Illinois extended the lead to 3-1 in the sixth before the Privateers answered back to trim the advantage back to one.
Owen Smith doubled into the gap.
Kruise Newman followed with a successful sac bunt ahead of an Adcox RBI groundout.
The win went to Reed Gannon who pitched the final 1.1 innings for his third victory this year. Farina scored three of the four Illini runs and Mitch Groves went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
INSIDE THE BOX
Jack Garvey had his longest outing of the season with four innings pitched and four strikeouts in that span. Biddick finished the day with two hits and a walk. The Privateers drew four walks on the day to seven strikeouts at the plate.
NEXT UP
The series closes with an 11 a.m. first pitch on Sunday.
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