April 22, 2001

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois Baseball team (20-22/8-11) dropped a 9-8 heartbreaker to Purdue this afternoon at Illinois Field. After taking a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning Illinois was unable to hold the Boilermakers in the ninth. Closer Jeff Gertz (0-2) took the loss after throwing one inning of relief and allowing three runs on two hits.

Purdue jumped to a 4-1 lead after three innings on Illini starter Matt Vorwald, fueled by three solo home runs, including two off the bat of second baseman David Blomberg.

Illinois started to rally off PU starter Sean O?Neil in the fifth, plating single runs in the fifth and sixth on a Brady Ballard RBI single and a Patrick Arlis run-scoring double. Illinois got two more in the seventh, as second baseman Brian Raymond chased O?Neil by leading off the inning with a triple. He promptly scored when Ballard followed with a home run to left, his fifth of the year, on the first pitch offered by Purdue reliever Adam Green.

After Vorwald allowed two more runs in the eighth to make it a 6-5 game, Illinois got two in its half of the inning, the big blow a two-RBI single from Raymond, who finished his day 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI.

After Gertz surrendered three runs in the ninth on a three-run home run from left fielder Nick McIntyre, the Illini mounted another rally in the bottom of the final frame trailing 9-7. Andy Schutzenhofer led off with a double and reliever Billy Lester then loaded the bases with one out by walking Luke Simmons and Patrick Arlis. Trevor Frederickson then drew a bases loaded walk with one out that scored Schutzenhofer, but Vince DiMaria and Raymond were unable to get the tying run home, giving Purdue a 9-8 win and a 3-1 series win. Lester (3-1) took the win, throwing 1 1/3 innings and allowing one run on one hit. He walked three and struck out one.

Illinois returns to action Tuesday at home, hosting Illinois State in a game scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m.