CHAMPAIGN — A nine-game homestand ended on Tuesday night for Illinois baseball.
With a loss.
The Illini fell behind Bradley 3-0 after three innings at Illinois Field, rallied to the nonconference game at 3 in the eighth, only to lose 4-3 to the Braves in 11 innings.
Illinois (24-12) still finished its longest homestand of the season with a 5-4 mark, but have lost four of their last five games going into this weekend's Big Ten series at Indiana.
Bradley (24-9) handed Illinois closer Joey Gerber (0-1) his first loss of the season when Keaton Rice singled with two outs in the top of the 11th to score Dan Bolt before the Illini went down in order in the bottom of the 11th.