Video: Iowa beats Illinois on walk-off safety squeeze

IOWA CITY — Iowa went small ball to get a series-opening win against Illinois on Saturday.

With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Jimmy Frankos laid down a bunt that Illini reliever J.D. Nielsen mishandled, and Joel Booker raced home for the walk-off 4-3 win at Duane Banks Field.

Booker began the 10th with a double and finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Frankos was 1 for 2 with two RBIs and Nick Roscetti had an RBI and a run in a 2-for-4 game.

Tyler Radtke got the win in relief. Starter C.J. Eldred allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out five in seven innings.

Iowa led 3-0 before Illinois got within one in the fourth, then tied it on pinch-hitter Luke Shilling's RBI single in the ninth. Matthew James was thrown out at home trying to give Illinois the lead by first-baseman Tyler Peyton on a grounder with one out, then Jason Goldstein flew out to end the inning.

Illinois, the defending Big Ten champion, took the nightcap 10-4.

The Illini hit three home runs, including a Doran Turchin grand slam. 

Peyton took the loss, giving up nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits in five innings.

The teams, both now 13-15 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten, played a doubleheader because of Friday's weather and finish the series Sunday at 1:05 p.m.