Chambana Sun

Illinois baseball faced a setback on Saturday, falling to Iowa with a score of 10-4 at Illinois Field. The game saw Illinois achieving a milestone as Vytas Valincius hit the team's 92nd home run of the season, setting a new single-season program record.

Valincius' three-run homer in the sixth inning halved Iowa's early lead. Connor Milton also contributed with a solo home run in the eighth inning. Despite these efforts, Illinois could not secure the decisive hits needed to overcome Iowa's lead.

Pitcher Will Lavin delivered three innings allowing one run and striking out three batters. Julius Sanchez pitched two scoreless innings, conceding only two hits.

The Hawkeyes established an early advantage by scoring in each of the first four innings, resulting in a 6-0 lead. Although Illinois managed to bring potential tying runs to the plate in the eighth inning, they were unable to capitalize.

Iowa sealed their victory by adding four more runs in the ninth inning. The defeat marked another challenging game for Illinois despite notable individual performances from players like Drake Westcott and Connor Milton.

Looking ahead, Illinois will face Iowa again for a rubber match on Sunday, marking their final regular season home game of 2024. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

Drake Westcott was recognized for his performance, going 2-for-3 with a run and walk. Valincius achieved his tenth home run of the season and has accumulated 21 RBIs over his last ten games. Meanwhile, Milton has consistently reached base safely over recent games.

The Illini have maintained their streak of hitting home runs across 17 consecutive games this season. Senior Day festivities honored several team members before Saturday's game.