March 15, 2001

Box Score

Fresno, CA - The Illinois baseball team (8-6), seeded second on the blue division, beat New Mexico, the third seed in the red division, 6-5 this afternoon at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic at Fresno State. Illinois jumped out to an early 5-2 lead but began the ninth inning tied at five and had to manufacture a run to improve to 3-1 at the tournament.

Illinois got on the board in the second when, already down 1-0, Rob Fischer doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on an error by the New Mexico catcher, and scored on a ground ball to the right side off the bat of Luke Simmons.

After starter Justin Olson (0-0) gave up a single run in the top of the third, Illinois responded with four in its half of the inning. The big blow came when the New Mexico third baseman mishandled a shot down the line from Rob Fischer, allowing T.F. Meagher and Andy Schutzenhofer to score.

New Mexico tied the game with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth off Illini reliever Tim Gorski, but Illinois pulled off the ninth inning rally to win its third game of the year in its final at bat.

Brady Ballard led off the ninth with a double and T.F. Meagher got aboard when UNM reliever Kris Gross hit him with a pitch. Both advanced a base when Gross threw away a pickoff throw to second, and the Lobos intentionally walked Andy Schutzenhofer to load the bases. Kris Kopriva, who had pinch hit for Jeff Gertz in the seventh, then hit a ground ball to the shortstop. With the only play at home, Ballard was called safe when UNM catcher Scott Tajima dropped the throw.

Vorwald (3-1) got the win after throwing two innings of relief and allowing two hits while striking out one. Gross (1-2) suffered the loss. Illinois will find out who it plays Friday after the conclusion of today's games at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic.

Illinois will enter cross-divisional play at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic on Thursday. Seedings and game times will be determined after the conclusion of today's games.