April 7, 2001

Box Score

Columbus, Ohio - The University of Illinois baseball team (15-15/4-6 Big Ten) dropped a Big Ten doubleheader to Ohio State (23-6/6-1 Big Ten) this evening at Bill Davis Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University.

Illinois was a heartbreak loser in the first game, taking a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh and final inning after rallying for two runs and the lead in the top half of the frame. Starter Justin Olson (2-1), attempting to close out the complete game, walked Nick Swisher to lead off the seventh before giving up a two-run game-winning home run to DH Christian Snavely one out later.

Olson did a good job on the mound, allowing six runs (all earned) on 10 hits. He struck out five and walked four but was unable to pick up his second conference win in as many weeks. Illinois gave him a chance by rallying for two runs and its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. The rally started with a leadoff single off the bat of Greg Belcher, who then stole second while Brady Ballard, who eventually walked, batted. Ballard was retired on a fielders choice off the bat of T.F. Meagher that advanced Belcher to third, and OSU intentionally walked Andy Schutzenhofer to load the bases for Rob Fischer, who singled to right, scoring Belcher and Meagher to make the score 5-4 in favor of Illinois.

OSU closer Cory Cox, who was unable to save the game for starter Kevin Goodrum in the final 1 1/3 innings, was credited with the win to improve to 2-0 on the year. Olson (2-1) suffered the loss.

Illinois took a quick 1-0 lead in game two when leadoff man Brady Ballard scored on a Rob Fischer single after reaching base on an error to lead off the game. The 1-0 cushion held up until the fourth inning when OSU touched Illini starter Ryan Kvasnicka for two runs and added three more in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

That lead was all Ohio State would need as reliever Kyle Brown (3-0) picked up the win and Cox came into the game to retire the final batter after Illinois had brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Kvasnicka (0-2) took the loss. He threw a complete game, allowing five runs (all earned) on eight hits.

Illinois and Ohio State wrap up the four-game series with a single game Sunday scheduled for 1:05 p.m. eastern time.