WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Fighting Illini baseball (2-2) fell to No. 6 Wake Forest (4-0), 10-1, today at David F. Couch Ballpark.

Illinois went 2-2 in its four-game season-opening series, with both wins coming against Youngstown State and both losses coming against Wake Forest.

The hosts put runs on the board in both the first and second innings with a pair of solo home runs to open an early 2-0 lead, but Cam McDonald led off the fourth inning with an opposite-field solo shot of his own to halve the deficit.

The Demon Deacons extended their lead back to two runs in the fourth, before beginning to pull away in fifth, scoring twice to make it 5-1.

Illinois threatened to get back into the game by placing two runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to cash in any runs. The Illini offense stranded a season-high 10 runners in the ballgame.

Wake Forest would go on to add two runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth to cap the scoring in the contest.

Julius Sanchez got the start for the Illini, making his collegiate debut. He struck out the first batter that he faced before conceding the first of his two home runs allowed. He ended his outing with 4.1 innings of work and allowed five runs on six hits to go along with four strikeouts and two walks.

Logan Tabeling, Korey Bunselmeyer, Gabe Helder, Brady Banker and Jake Swartz all made their Illinois debuts out of the bullpen, with freshmen Helder, Banker and Swartz all making their first collegiate appearances.

Danny Doligale went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot for his second-straight multi-hit game and Branden Comia went 1-for-3 to extend his on-base streak to 44 games. Camden Janik went 1-for-3 with a walk and extends his hitting streak to four games.

UP NEXT

Illinois begins a three-game set in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday, where they will face the No. 18 Southern Miss Golden Eagles. First pitch in the series opener is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.

GAME NOTES

» Branden Comia reached base safely, going 1-for-3 and being hit by a pitch, extending his on-base streak to 44 games.

» Danny Doligale recorded his second-straight multi-hit game and has reached base safely at least twice in all four games this season.

    » Doligale is getting on base at a team-high .500.

» Cam McDonald launched his first home run of the season in the fourth inning.

    » Had hits in three of four games this weekend.

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