CHAMPAIGN — One day after Illinois baseball had each game of its doubleheader against Southern Illinois decided by a single run, its offense refused to stay quiet.
The result? Multiple career days at the plate, a fourth series sweep in five weekends and the best 16-game start to the season for the Illini in three decades.
Illinois (13-3) surrendered a run in the first inning of Sunday afternoon's series finale, then collected 14 runs over four innings beginning in the third to roll Southern Illinois (10-8) at Illinois Field.
Ben Troike tallied a career-high four hits along with four RBI and three runs to lead the Illini to an 18-hit afternoon, one short of a season-high performance.