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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Bouncing back impressively from a midweek setback, Illinois surged past No. 20 Nebraska in a thrilling home victory.
The turning point came in the third inning when Will Johannes smashed a grand slam, extending the lead to 7-0.
“I felt I hit it well, and I was hoping it would clear the fence since the wind wasn’t as strong as usual at Illinois Field,” Johannes shared. “When I saw it sail over, I was overjoyed.”
Ultimately, Illinois secured a 10-5 triumph over Nebraska to kick off the weekend on a high note. The series continues with Game 2 on Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m. at Illinois Field.
In other sports, Illini softball began their Big Ten series against Penn State on Friday night. Despite Eileen Donahue’s late solo home run, the Nittany Lions emerged victorious with a 6-1 win. The second game is set for a 1 p.m. start at Eichelberger Field.