HUNTSVILLE — Illinois used the long ball to hand Sam Houston an 8-3 loss to secure the series victory at Don Sanders Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Illini (6-3) hit four home runs to go up in the three-game series 2-0 following an 8-5 win on Friday in the opener. The Kats (5-7) will try to salvage the series today at 1 p.m.
Sam Houston grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first when red-hot
Joe Redfield led off with a triple to left center field.
Justin Wishkoski brought him home with a well-place groundout to short.
Illinois scored two runs in the second and the third on a pair of two-run home runs off starter
Steven Beard (1-2) to take the lead for good.
The Bearkats added a run in the third to cut the lead to two. Redfield doubled down the right field line and scored when Wishkoski followed with a double down the left field line.
Redfield brought in a run in the seventh on a fielder's choice, but the Illini added a solo home run and a two-run shot in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
