March 13, 2000

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of Illinois baseball team defeated Iowa, 6-2, this afternoon on the campus of North Florida. With the win Illinois improves to 8-2 overall and 3-1 on its Spring Trip.

The story of the day for Illinois was starter Ryan Kvasnicka, who threw eight innings and gave up only one earned run in his first start for the Orange and Blue. Kvasnicka, a junior, is a transfer who originally attended Northeastern Illinois and then spent the 1999 season at Prairie State J.C. after Northeastern dropped its baseball program.

"Kvasnicka did an outstanding job today," Illinois Head Coach Itch Jones said. "He threw eight very good innings for us today. Coming off a loss, we did what we had to do, scoring runs early."

Illinois scored two early runs in the bottom of the first inning after Creston Whitaker led off the game getting hit by a pitch and scored on Brady Ballard?s triple one at bat later. Ballard then scored when D.J. Svihlik grounded to second one batter later.

Illinois added another four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Craig Marquie, who reached on a fielders choice, scored on a Chris Basak single, then Andy Schutzenhofer and Chris Basak scored on a two-RBI single from Luke Simmons. Jeff Gertz then rounded out the scoring as he came in when Creston Whitaker reached base on an error.

Iowa added its only run in the bottom of the fifth when Brian Bucklin scored on a Kurt Vitense single.

Kvasnicka (1-0) got the win and Iowa starter Matt Hasz suffered the loss. Illinois returns to action Tuesday with a noon (CT) date with Rider.