The streak is over. With the score tied at one in the top of the ninth inning, Illinois junior catcher Aaron Johnson hit a two-run home run over the left field scoreboard off LSU senior pitcher Louis Coleman on Friday to secure a 3-1 Illinois win, snapping LSU’s 25-game regular season winning streak. “We really didn’t play a very good game today,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We made a few mistakes on the bases and in a low scoring game like that, that’s all it takes.” Illinois scored a run in the top of the first inning on an infield single by third baseman Dominic Altobelli that scored shortstop Brandon Wikoff from second base after a throwing error by LSU senior third baseman Derek Helenihi. LSU sophomore pitcher Anthony Ranaudo was hit on the thigh on Altobelli’s single, but he stayed in the game and was effective in his third straight start and pitched seven innings and allowed one runs while striking out 12 hitters. Ranaudo now has 29 strikeouts in his first three starts of the season. “At the beginning of the game, I was getting them with my fastball,” Ranaudo said. “But later in the game, I was getting them with my breaking ball and changeup, so it was a good mix.” The Illini’s run held up until the bottom of the fifth inning when LSU senior right fielder Nicholas Pontiff hit a solo home run over the left field fence to tie the game. The home run was the first run of the season scored off Illinois sophomore pitcher Phil Haig who had opened the season with 16 straight scoreless innings. LSU threatened in the sixth inning and had runners at first and second base with no outs, but Altobelli made a diving play on a ground ball by Pontiff to end the inning and the scoring threat. Like Ranaudo, Haig pitched seven innings and only allowed one run. Nick Chmielewski pitched the ninth inning and earned the save for the Illini. Coleman said despite the streak being finished, the team is anxious to hit the field again tomorrow against the Illini. “We have this thing called the midnight rule,” he said.” Which means we forget about tonight’s game at midnight and tomorrow’s a new day. That’s the great thing about baseball.” Notes: LSU junior outfielder Jared Mitchell missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Mainieri said Mitchell is doubtful for tomorrow’s game.
 
 
 
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Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]