CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — AJ Putty drove in seven runs with a home run and three doubles, and the Illinois Fighting Illini erupted for 11 runs in the first two innings to rout the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 14-5 on Sunday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The game, which concluded in the evening, was a stark reversal from Saturday’s series opener, which Coastal Carolina won 1-0. The Fighting Illini (3-4) pounded out 17 hits, while the Chanticleers (4-2) managed just six.

The most important part of the game was the top of the first inning, where Illinois sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs against Coastal Carolina starter Ross Norman and reliever Jaxon Appelman. The onslaught began with four consecutive hits, including an RBI single by Daniel Contreras. After a hit-by-pitch forced in another run, Putty cleared the bases with a grand slam to right field, his first home run of the season. Will Johannes followed with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by JR Nelson.

Putty, who was hitless in his previous game, finished 5 for 6. He added a two-run double in the second inning and an RBI double in the seventh. His seven RBIs were a career high.

Johannes contributed a two-run homer in the second inning as part of a three-RBI day.

The early offensive explosion made a winner of Illinois starter Regan Hall (1-0), who worked 5 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs, though only one was earned, on six hits. He struck out three. Kyle Remington was dominant in relief, throwing 3 2/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts to earn his first save.

Coastal Carolina’s offense, which had been held to one run on Saturday, showed brief life. Trace Mazon III hit an RBI double in the first inning, and Domenico Tozzi hit a two-run homer in the second. Jordan Taylor added a two-run double in the sixth to cut the deficit to 14-5, but Remington entered and shut the door.

Chanticleers relievers Jackson Smallets and Connor Kane provided stability, combining for 5 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts after the early damage. Norman (0-1) took the loss.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Coastal Carolina a 75.3% probability to win and projected a 7-5 Chanticleers victory.

Illinois next plays Michigan State on Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. Coastal Carolina hosts VCU in a game scheduled for later Sunday.