Baseball team out of race

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Illinois was eliminated from the Big Ten baseball title hunt Friday night, but reliever Lee Zerrusen did everything he could to keep his team in the race.

Zerrusen struck out Purdue’s Dan Black with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the Illini’s 6-3 victory Friday afternoon. Illinois (33-17, 16-7 Big Ten) fell 11/2 games behind league-leading Minnesota, which defeated Penn State on Friday night to end Illinois’ bid.

“Our guys made some plays late in the game, and Lee Zerrusen did a great job of working out of jams today,” UI coach Dan Hartleb said.

UI third baseman Dominic Altobelli was 4 for 5 with two doubles, and designated hitter Willie Argo went 3 for 4 with four RBI.

In softball:

Rain delays game. Illinois' NCAA regional game against Missouri was stopped due to severe storms Friday in Columbia, Mo.

The game, which the Illini led 1-0, was scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. today.

Right fielder Hope Howell reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on left fielder Hollie Pinchback's single down the left field line.

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