Slater's Solo Homer Propels Michigan to Shutout of Illinois

Thursday, May 19

Champaign, Ill.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

35-17, 13-9

Illinois

26-23, 10-12

Michigan

Illinois

Slater's Solo Homer Propels Michigan to Shutout of Illinois

5/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 19, 2016

» Junior Johnny Slater picked up his first homer of the season with a solo blast over the rightfield wall in the top of the fifth inning.
» Junior Brett Adcock struck out nine batters and allowed just three hits in 8.1 innings pitched in the victory, while sophomore Bryan Pall picked up his fourth save of the season.
» Michigan's win Thursday night snapped a five-game losing streak and secured the Wolverines a berth in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.

• Box Score

Site: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Score: Michigan 1, Illinois 0
Records: U-M (35-17, 13-9 Big Ten), Illinois (26-24, 10-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 20 -- at Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), 6 p.m. CDT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A solo home run by junior Johnny Slater, an 8.1-inning pitching performance from junior LHP Brett Adcock, and a save by sophomore Bryan Pall went the distance Thursday night (May 19) as the University of Michigan baseball team defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini, 1-0, in the first game of the final series of the 2016 regular season.

With the win, Michigan snapped a five-game losing skid and secured a selection to next week's Big Ten Conference Tournament.

Adcock got the start for Michigan in the series opener, tossing a season-high 8.1 innings and striking out nine batters in the victory. The lefty starter threw 116 pitches, facing 32 batters and walking four while yielding just three hits. In the bottom of the ninth, Pall came in for the save situation and retired two batters for his fourth save of the season.

Neither team scored through the first four innings, as the Fighting Illini and the Wolverines combined for just five hits through four complete.

In the top of the fifth, however, Slater's solo home run over the rightfield fence accounted for the game's only scoring. It marked the first homer of the season for Slater and the fourth of his career.

Each team ended the game with just three hits. Sophomore Jake Bivens and senior Cody Bruder picked up the only other hits for Michigan.

Tweet of the Game

Johnny Slater's 5th-inning bomb goes the distance!

We'll be back at it tomorrow with a 6pm first pitch! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LDH4oTraXT

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) May 20, 2016

The Wolverines will continue their series at Illinois with a Friday night game tomorrow (May 20) in Champaign, Illinois. First pitch for the contest is set for 6 p.m. CDT at Illinois Field.

Postgame Audio

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt