March 31, 2002

Box Score

Bloomington, Ind. - Illinois dropped a doubleheader to Indiana this afternoon at Sembower Field on the campus of Indiana University, losing the first game 4-0 before dropping a heartbreaking 5-3 decision in the nightcap. The losses drop the Illini to 11-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten while Indiana improved to 20-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

Illinois was shutout for the first time this season in the first game of the day Sunday. IU starter Nick Vitielliss went the distance, allowing only four hits in seven innings. The righthander walked four and struck out seven. Illinois didn't threaten Indiana after Drew Davidson led off the game with a single up the middle and was picked off by Vitielliss trying to advance to second. The Illini would fail to advance a runner past second base all afternoon.

Illini sophomore Ted Rowe (2-1) suffered the loss in his first career start. He went the full six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits. Rowe walked four and struck out five.

Illinois came out swinging in the nightcap, however, determined to salvage a series split. After threatening in the first and second, Illinois got down to business in the third after Illinois starter Josh Lane gave up a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead to Indiana in the bottom of the second.

Brandon Cashman, hitting in the leadoff slot for the first time this season, led off the third inning with a home run to left, his second of the year, to put Illinois on the board and cut the IU lead to one. After Lane retired the Hoosiers in the third, Illinois added two more in the top of the fourth, as Dusty Bensko doubled and scored on a throwing error, and Pat Flynn, starting in center for the first time this year, scored on a Cashman ground out after reaching on a single, giving Illinois a 3-2 lead.

Lane held that lead until the bottom of the seventh when he collected one quick out but then issued a hit by pitch and walk to two straight batters to bring up IU shortstop Eric Blakeley, who broke Illinois' hearts with a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Hoosiers a 5-3 win. Indiana reliever Adam Pegg got the win to improve to 3-1 on the year after throwing the final 4 1/3 innings.

Illinois returns to action Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Western Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Illinois and Western Michigan square off again Wednesday at 2:05 p.m. in a single game before the Illini welcome Purdue to town for a Big Ten Conference series Friday-Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Friday, 4:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.