CHAMPAIGN — After spending the first month of the season on the road, Illinois baseball returned home with style Saturday.
The Illini (12-3) earned a pair of 5-4 wins in a doubleheader against Southern Illinois, using late offense to key a strong first showing at Illinois Field.
Freshman Jason Campbell delivered the first victory with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the home opener, the fifth straight home-opening win for the Illini.
Michael Massey homered for a third game in a row, while Centennial graduate Kellen Sarver tallied three hits to lead Illinois.
Similar heroics were needed for Illinois in the second game after the Illini allowed four unearned runs in the seventh inning to squander a 3-0 lead.