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Korte, Illini claim tournament berth

CHAMPAIGN — As a 5-foot-8, 190-pound baseball catcher, Jeff Korte is not the most ideal candidate to hit a triple.

Nor is he the first guy you'd choose when looking for a baserunner to tag from third on a medium-depth fly ball to left field.

Korte completed both of those tasks Sunday for No. 25 Illinois.

And he couldn't have picked a better time.

Korte's RBI triple in the sixth inning produced the eventual game-winning tally.

Moments later, his savvy footwork netted an insurance marker as the Illini defeated Purdue 6-4 to gain not only a three-tilt series sweep, but also guaranteed entry into the Big Ten tournament.