Illini Baseball Sees Season End with Back-to-Back Big Ten Tournament Losses

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)

May 20, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

OMAHA, Neb. – [9] Illinois fell to [5] Purdue, 3-1, in an elimination game at the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday morning.

The Fighting Illini finish the season with a 28-27 record.

Aidan Flinn posted the longest outing of his collegiate career while starting his day with seven scoreless innings. AJ Putty accounted for the Illini's lone RBI, while he and J.R. Nelson tallied multi-hit days at the plate.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • Jack Zebig reached on a walk.
    • Ended his Illinois career with a 20-game on-base streak.
  • AJ Putty posted a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI.
    • Recorded his 18th multi-hit game of the year.
  • J.R. Nelson tallied a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
    • Marked his 10th multi-hit game of the year.
      • Was his third consecutive multi-hit game.
  • Aidan Flinn went 7.1 innings with seven strikeouts.
    • Started his day with seven scoreless innings.
    • Marked the longest outing of his career.
    • Had at least seven strikeouts for the third time.

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