The winds were blowing out for much of this weekend’s games prompting for a very offense-laden series. Northwestern Wildcats came to Illinois Field with reports of good hitting and their performance against Illinois fit the bill. They took two of the three games while hitting fifteen homeruns for the weekend.
Illinois had their moments with a spectacular comeback win on Friday. On Saturday, the Illini battled like I have never seen them battle before.
Illinois’ weekend now puts them at 7-8.
Friday March 26
 | Northwestern | 8 |
 | Illinois | 12 |
Down 5-3, the Illini came back to win Friday’s game. This was due mostly to an eight-run seventh inning. Branden Comia and Justin Janas were big contributors to the offense. Comia went 4 for 5 and Janas drove in three runs.
Nate Lavender earned his third win of the season in relief. He pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with nine strikeouts!
FightingIllini.com recap | Illinois Baseball Report game photo gallery
Saturday March 27
| Northwestern | 16 |
| Illinois | 14 |
I have attended Illini baseball games since 2005 and Saturday’s game ranks at one of most of the most exciting I have attended (this game in 2007 comes close!). Unfortunately, Saturday’s game didn’t end with a victory.
Long story short… Illinois came back from behind no less than three times (including overcoming a six run deficit) and eventually had a one-run lead going into the ninth inning. It wasn’t in the cards for the Illini as Northwestern hit an Illinois Field record nine homeruns.
This photo of Ryan Hampe getting swarmed by his teammates after his homerun gives you the idea of how intense the atmosphere was on Saturday.
Branden Comia again went 4 for 5. Jackson Raper hit two homeruns (that’s three in two games!) and drove in six runs for the game. In fact, with homers from Comia, Jacob Campbell, and Hampe, Illinois almost doubled their team homerun total in one day (from 6 to 11).
The ERAs for the both staffs took a hit, that’s for sure.
FightingIllini.com recap | Illinois Baseball Report game photo gallery
Sunday March 28
| Northwestern | 12 |
| Illinois | 5 |
Sunday’s game was one of the most windiest games, I’ve ever experienced. With five homers, Northwestern managed to take advantage of that. Illinois not so much. Andrew Kim did hit his first one of his career.
Branden Comia advanced his on-base streak with two hits. For the series, he went 10-15 if I have my math right. Jacob Campbell and Cam McDonald also collected two hits in the 12-5 loss.
FightingIllini.com recap | Illinois Baseball Report game photo gallery
Random Ramblings
Just a quick note that my photos are available at the Illinois Baseball Report photo gallery. Photos from this season can be found at this direct link.
Illinois will be home again next weekend. They will be facing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois Field in a three-game series.