Team Illinois fell to Team Arizona 9-3 to move to 1-1 in pool play.

Down 5-1 at the time in the bottom of the fourth inning, Peter Pignatiello (Benet, 2028) stepped in and delivered an in-the-park home run, also plating Anderson Kaufmann (Alton, 2028) who singled earlier in the frame, making it 5-3 at the time. 

RHP Cole Clower (Minooka, 2028) fired three stellar innings for the Illinois squad to start the game, battling through a tough first frame before settling in and twirling two spotless innings to keep Illinois in the game. 

Alex Govoni (Loyola, 2028) threw the ball well for Illinois in relief, twirling two shutout innings with two strikeouts with a fastball in the low-80s. 

Clower contributed at the plate to help his own cause in the bottom of the second, delivering a sac fly to plate Payton Archibald (Charleston, 2028) who walked to begin the inning, making the score 4-1 at the time. 

Team Illinois will continue pool play today at 11:00 am against Pennsylvania.

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