March 19, 2002

Box Score

Bradenton, Fla. - A ninth inning rally gave Illinois a 5-4 win over Wright State today, extending the team's winning streak to eight games and giving Illinois a 4-0 record so far on its Spring Trip. Dusty Bensko hit the game-winning double in the top of the ninth and Ted Rowe (2-0) earned the win in relief while Josh Lane earned his second save of the season. With the win Illinois improved to 8-1 on the year while Wright State fell to 3-10 on the season.

Illinois and Wright State played to a scoreless tie through three innings thanks to solid starting pitching from Illinois' Andy Dickinson and Wright State's Nathan Kopp. Illinois broke out in the top of the fourth, scoring a single run when Drew Davidson drew a bases-loaded walk, and Dickinson held that 1-0 lead until the the bottom of the sixth when Wright State answered with a run of its own.

The game stayed tied at one until the top of the eighth when Brandon Cashman led off with a double. He came in one batter later on a Sean Patrick single, and both Patrick and Davidson scored on a T.F. Meagher sac fly and Andy Schutzenhofer double, respectively.

With Dickinson out of the game after throwing seven innings on three days rest, Illini reliever Ted Rowe entered the game in the bottom of the eight with a 4-1 lead. Rowe was unable to hold the lead, however, giving up a three-run home run to Wright State's Jake Hart to tie the game 4-4.

Illinois reclaimed the lead in the ninth after Joe Parenti singled to lead off the inning, stole second, went to third and scored on a two-out double from freshman Dusty Bensko. Josh Lane entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side to earn his second save of the season.

Illinois plays the final game of its 2002 Spring Trip Wednesday afternoon with a scheduled 2:30 pm (eastern) first pitch against the University of Massachusetts.