Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Junior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a go-ahead double in the first inning, but Rutgers baseball fell to No. 3 Illinois, 6-2, Saturday at Illinois Field. It was the nightcap of a doubleheader, as the Scarlet Knights were edged, 5-4, in the opener.

Recording his first collegiate four-hit game and third overall by a Scarlet Knight this season, Suseck collected two doubles and two singles. The second baseman also scored and knocked in one. Senior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.) contributed a double and one run scored, while freshman Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) recorded a single and saw 17 pitches in three plate appearances.

The RU bullpen put up a zero in four of five innings worked. Sophomores Kyle Driscoll (Toms River, N.J.) and Ryan Fleming (Churchville, Pa.) each logged two innings with no runs allowed. Junior starter Mark McCoy (Barnegat, N.J.) (2-8) suffered the loss.

The Scarlet Knights (17-33-1, 5-15) started the game with a run in the top of the first. D'Annunzio doubled to the right field corner with one out and came home with two down when Suseck hammered a double off the wall in left.

However, the Fighting Illini (42-6-1, 18-1) responded with three runs on three hits in the next half inning. Jason Goldstein hit a two-run home run to cap the rally. The hosts expanded their advantage to 4-1 in the third on three successive singles with two outs.

It would stay that way until UI brought in two in the bottom of the eighth for insurance. In the ninth, Suseck doubled and eventually scored on an error, but the rally fell short.

Drasen Johnson (8-2) picked up the win for the Fighting Illini with one run permitted over seven frames, while J.D. Nielsen tossed the last two for his second save. Illinois had 11 hits offensively and has won 23 consecutive games.

Game three of the series is set for noon ET from Illinois Field. It is the final Big Ten road game on the schedule for Rutgers.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@BaseballRU), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Tumblr.