April 13, 2002

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Michigan this afternoon at Illinois Field by scores of 10-0 and 5-3. With the pair of losses Illinois dropped to 17-9 overall and 4-7 in the Big Ten. Michigan improved to 11-17 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten.

In game one, Illinois was unable to break through against Michigan starter Rich Hill. Hill threw a complete game shutout, allowing only five hits in seven innings of work while striking out eight. He did not walk a batter in improving to 2-3 on the year.

Illinois starter Ted Rowe threw well through four innings, holding Michigan scoreless, before giving up two in the fifth and two in the sixth before being pulled in favor of Jimmy Conroy. Conroy, Ryan Parks and Tim Gorski combined to throw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits. Rowe suffered the loss, falling to 2-3 on the year.

Illinois took a 1-0 lead in game two when Joe Parenti singled home Luke Simmons in the second inning. Illini starter Reilly Smith made that stand up until the fourth inning when Michigan plated two. Illinois came back to tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth, as Andy Schutzenhofer led off with a walk and eventually scored when Dusty Bensko walked with the bases loaded and two out.

Michigan took command of the game with a three-run sixth, however. After plating one run, left fielder Brandon Roberts hit a two-run home run to right to make the score 5-2. Illinois would rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring one run on another RBI single from Joe Parenti, but the game when Michigan reliever Matt Collins struck out Dusty Bensko with the bases loaded.

Collins got the win in relief of Jim Brauer to improve to 3-0 on the year. He threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits. Illini reliever Josh Lane suffered the loss, falling to 2-2 on the year after allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work.

Illinois and Michigan conlcude their four-game series with a single game at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday at Illinois Field.