CONWAY- With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth, preseason All-American Kevin Woodall Jr., delivered a two-run home run to give Coastal Carolina a 6-4 victory over Illinois Friday night in the Brittan Resorts Invitational played at Springs Brooks Stadium.

Woodall is coming off a two-home run game in CCU’s 13-0 win at College of Charleston on Wednesday and he entered Friday night’s game ranked second in the NCAA in home runs (now with four) and third in RBI (now with 13).

Prior to the Woodall home run, Cory Wood drew a walk and, with him scoring the fifth run of the game, the sophomore has scored or driven in the game winner three times this season while Woodall has driven in the game winner twice this season – an extra-innings single versus Kansas State and tonight’s eighth-inning home run.

The Chanticleers (5-1) and Illini (1-2) will square off again tomorrow (Sat., Feb. 24) at 2:30. Sandwiched around the CCU-Illinois game on day two of the Brittain Resorts Invitational, West Virginia and Illinois will play at 11 am while West Virginia will play VCU at 6 pm.

The Fightin’ Illini grabbed an early 2-0 lead on the top of the second off a two-run, home run by Jack Yalowitz.

In the home half of the second, the Chants answered with four runs. Kyle Skeels had a leadoff single while Matt Beaird and Cameron Pearcey followed with infield singles to load the bases. Parker Chavers brought home Skeels with an RBI ground out. A walk to Kieton Rivers loaded the bases again and Keaton Weisz cleared the pads with a two-out, three-run double.

Illinois got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth. Doran Turchin drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an error and scored on an RBI single by Bren Spillane.

In the sixth, Illinois tied the game, 4-4. Spillane had a leadoff triple and scored on an RBI ground out by Jeff Korte.

Coastal scored its two runs in the eighth thanks to Woodall’s blast that left the confines of Springs Brooks Stadium

Matt Eardensohn (2-0) worked the final 4.1 innings to get the win. The junior allowed three hits and one run with a walk and five strikeouts. Jason Bilous started and lasted 4.2 innings. He allowed three hits, three runs (two earned) seven walks and struck out four.

Spillane led the Illini, going 3-for-4, while Sean Leland (1-1) suffered the loss.