After putting up 16 runs in yesterday’s blowout win, the Ducks got a taste of their own medicine after Illinois bounced back with 16 runs in today’s late-game thriller.

No. 19 Oregon baseball (27-11, 11-6 Big Ten) dropped its second game at Illinois (20-17, 8-9 Big Ten) in a 16-13 loss today on a pedestrian outing from starting pitcher Collin Clarke (5.0 IP, 3 K, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB) and strong hitting from Maddox Molony (2-4, 2 RBI, HR, HBP, BB) and Brayden Jaksa (2-5, 7 RBI, HR)

The Ducks got off to a slow start on both sides of the ball, with no hits and no strikeouts for Oregon. Things finally picked up in the second inning with Maddox Molony slashing the first hit for the Ducks against Illinois starter Mitch Dye with a single to center field with one out before stealing second. After Burke-Lee Mabeus walked a pitch after the steal, Jack Brooks hit a ball through the right side of the infield for an RBI single to take an early lead at Illinois Field.

The bases were loaded after Brooks stole second and Jax Gimenez reached on a hit by pitch, which brought up Brayden Jaksa. He drew a full count before being walked, scoring Mabeus to make it 2-0, before a groundout from Ryan Cooney stranded the remaining base runners.

After loading the bases and failing to score a run in the third and then another scoreless inning in the fourth, Illinois managed to score its first run on an RBI single from catcher Daniel Contreras just inside the foul line in deep right field. After designated hitter Cole Crafton drew a walk, shortstop J.R. Nelson hit an RBI single before Nick Groves’ two-run double gave the Illini their first lead of the day at 4-2.

Illinois’ lead lasted mere minutes after Maddox Molony smashed a two-run homer to deep left field, sending Laya home after he walked in four pitches to start the top half of the fifth. 

In the bottom of the sixth, head coach Mark Wasikowski made the call to the bullpen to bring on Luke Morgan to relieve Clarke. Morgan got off to a hot start, striking out two after walking one before a flyout to left field ended the inning.

Mabeus reignited the Oregon bats with a single through the middle of the infield to start the seventh inning before Naulivou Lauaki slashed his first hit of the day with a single to left field to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. After Brooks reached first on a walk to load the bases, Jaksa singled to left field, scoring both Lauaki and Mabeus to take a 6-4 lead. 

In the bottom half of the seventh, Illinois loaded the bases with no outs on a leadoff triple from Groves and back-to-back walks. The Fighting Illini tied it up at six after Michael Meckna threw back-to-back wild pitches, scoring two runs, leaving runners at the corners with no outs. 

Illinois kept things rolling in the bottom of the seventh with an onslaught of runs from multiple errors and hits to make it 12-6 heading into the top of the eighth inning.

Oregon desperately needed runs after the eight-run inning from Illinois in the seventh, and it managed just that after loading the bases with no outs. Brooks was hit by a pitch to send home the first run of the inning before Jaksa sent a ball deep for a clutch grand slam to make it 11-12.

Drew Smith played hero shortly thereafter with a two-run bomb to score Cooney, who reached on a hit by pitch just before, to retake the lead 13-12 heading into the bottom half of the eighth. 

Devin Bell came in during the bottom half of the eighth after Gabe Howard let up a single from first baseman AJ Putty. He walked one before a throwing error on a potential sac bunt scored the tying run and loaded the bases. A heads-up play from Molony secured the first out of the inning on a fielder’s choice throw to home before Cooney snagged a line drive to give Bell some breathing room for the final out.

After a scoreless top of the ninth for Oregon, Illinois walked it off with a three-run home run from Schupmann to even the series at a game apiece.

The Ducks take on Illinois in the series finale tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. PST at Illinois Field in Champaign, Illinois.