April 6, 2001

Box Score

Columbus, Ohio - The Illinois baseball team (15-13/4-4 Big Ten) dropped game one of its four-game series against Ohio State, 11-6, this evening at Bill Davis Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. Illinois came within one run in the eighth inning but the bullpen was unable to shut the door on the Buckeyes (21-6/4-1 Big Ten), who scored four of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning to preserve the win.

Illinois got on the board first, plating two runs in second inning off OSU starter E.J. Laratta (6-1). Luke Simmons reached on a one-out infield single, advanced to second on a ground ball off the bat of catcher Patrick Arlis and scored on a double from DH Vince DiMaria, the first extra base hit of his career. DiMaria then added the second run when he scored from second on a Chad Frk single.

But Ohio State caught and passed the Illini in the bottom of the third inning as the Buckeyes tagged Illini ace Andy Dickinson (6-1) for five runs. The big blow of the inning was a two-run home run off the bat of OSU DH Doug Deeds. Ohio State added single insurance runs in the sixth and seventh to go into the eighth inning with a comfortable 7-2 lead.

Illinois got to Laratta in the eighth as Greg Belcher led off with a bunt single. Brady Ballard followed with a double to center that moved Belcher to third. One out later Andy Schutzenhofer hit a double of his own to left center, scoring Belcher and Ballard. Left fielder Rob Fischer then hit a home run, his seventh of the season, over the right field wall to make it a 7-6 OSU lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Illini relievers Casey Hahn, Derek Throneburg and Reilly Smith couldn't hold the lead, allowing four Buckeye runs in the eighth to make it an 11-6 game, a lead OSU closer Cory Cox protected in the ninth as he retired the side in order.

Dickinson (6-1) suffered the loss, his first of the season. The junior lefthander threw six innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. He walked five and struck out three. Laratta (6-1) picked up the win after throwing 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

Illinois and OSU meet again for a 4:05 p.m. eastern time doubleheader Saturday. The series concludes at 1:05 p.m. eastern time Sunday.