Rutgers 7, at Illinois 13

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Interstat) — In a wild Big Ten Conference opener defined by a historic first inning, the Illinois Fighting Illini erased an early seven-run deficit to defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 13-7 on Friday at Illinois Field. The game’s most important sequence came immediately, as the two teams combined for 16 runs in a first inning that lasted nearly an hour. Rutgers struck first, and fast, as leadoff hitter Peyton Bonds launched the game’s fourth pitch over the center field wall for a solo home run. The Scarlet Knights were not done, sending 10 more men to the plate… Read more...