The Oregon Ducks 10-game win streak came to a halt Friday night with a loss to the the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Nike College Showcase. Illini pitcher Kevin Johnson and company held the Ducks to a season-low four hits, striking out five in the process. The Ducks looked to do business as usual, taking the lead mid-way through the second inning. The Illini would have none of that and responded with a suffocating defense that the Ducks failed to break. The Ducks themselves put on some impressive defensive runs themselves, but the Illini broke through, tying the game in the fourth and ultimately taking a permanent lead in the sixth.
Senior starting pitcher Alex Keudell (47) pitches the ball during the Ducks first game in the Nike College Showcase against the Fighting Illini. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Freshman first baseman Scott Heineman (6) successfully catches a foul ball that was tipped straight up by an Illini hitter. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Junior infielder J.J. Altobelli (22) gets a slight hit on the ball that deflects forward off his bat and into the ground. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emera
Junior infielder J.J. Altobelli (22) reacts after he is forced out by a Fighting Illini first-baseman. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Freshman left fielder Kyle Garlick (4) hits a double and drives in freshman first baseman Ryan Healy (25), subsequently scoring the Ducks only run of the night. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
A Ducks baseball player reacts to freshman left fielder Kyle Garlick (4) hitting a double driving freshman first baseman Ryon Healy (25) to home plate. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Junior infielder Ryan Hambright (21) attempts to corral the ball near second base. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
A ballboy for the Ducks runs back toward the dugout after retrieving a fouled ball. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Freshman first baseman Scott Heineman (6) waits for Illini starting pitcher Kevin Johnson (22) to reset. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Junior infielder J.J. Altobelli (22) throws a bullet across the field to first base after fumbling the initial catch of the ball as it bounced toward him. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Left-handed freshman pitcher Tommy Thorpe (27) looks to throw the ball to first base after coming in for starting senior pitcher Alex Keudell (47) (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Freshman catcher Shaun Chase (16) takes his helmet off and prepares to throw it in frustration following the Ducks 2 – 1 loss to the Fighting Illini (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Junior infielder J.J. Altobelli (22) looks to the sky as he answers reporters’ questions regarding the Ducks 2 – 1 loss to the Fighting Illini. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
