May 20, 2000
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Illinois baseball team split a
Saturday doubleheader at the Big Ten Tournament but defeated Ohio State,
4-0, in the nightcap to advance to the championship game of the 2000
tournament. Illinois (39-21) has gotten a Big Ten tournament record four
complete games in its first four games while putting together a 3-1 record.
Illinois put itself into an elimination game against Ohio State after
dropping the first game of the day, 6-0. Illini starter Joe Sprengard (4-4)
went the distance but got no run support from the Illini offense, which was
able to collect only five hits off PSU starter Justin Nash (5-3).
Illinois went to junior Ryan Kvasnicka (2-2) in the second game, which
turned into an elimination game between Illinois and Ohio State. Kvasnicka
also went the distance, allowing only five hits to the Buckeye offense which
came into the game leading the tournament in overall offense. Kvasnicka got
into only one serious jam in the game, loading the bases in the bottom of
the ninth with two outs but then getting OSU pinch hitter Marcello Garofalo
to strike out looking to end the game.
Illinois got on the board quickly, jumping over OSU starter Brandon Steen
for single runs in the third and fourth inning and two in the fifth.
Offensively, Craig Marquie, Luke Simmons and Brady Ballard were each
2-for-4. Ballard had two doubles and Marquie and Simmons each collected one
RBI.
Illinois and Penn State will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday for the tournament
championship. The winner receives the Big Ten's automatic bid to the 2000
NCAA Baseball Championship tournament. This is Illinois' first appearance in
the tournament championship game since 1996.
