March 9, 2003

Box Score

Louisville, Ky. - The University of Illinois Baseball team suffered its first loss of the season, 1-0, to the University of Louisville this afternoon at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. Illinois dropped to 3-1 with the loss while the Cardinals improved to 9-4. Illinois still came away with a series win after taking the first two games of the series, 18-9 Friday and 11-3 Saturday.

Louisville got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Clean-up man Josh Bolen led off with a triple to center off Illini starter Ted Rowe. He came in when Morgan Bojorquez followed with a double to right that plated Bolen.

Illinois had several chances to score but each time U of L starter Zach Jackson was able to get out of the jam. Illinois' best scoring opportunity came in the third inning, when Chris Robinson led off with a single and, two outs later, advanced to third on an Andy Schutzenhofer single before Drew Davidson grounded to third to end the inning.

Illinos also stranded a runners on second and third in the fourth, when Brandon Cashman reached on a fielders choice and went to second on an Eric Eymann before a double steal put Cashman and Eymann on third and second, respectively, with two outs.

Despite taking the loss, Illinois starter Ted Rowe (0-1) enjoyed his best outing as a starter, lasting seven innings while allowing only one run on three hits. He walked four and struck out three. Jackson (1-1) earned the win, throwing a complete game shutout on six hits. He walked one and struck out eight.

Illinois returns to action next weekend at the University of Texas-Pan American Tournament in Edinburg, Texas.

Game Notes 1. Andy Schutzenhofer's third-inning single moved him into sole possession of ninth place on Illinois' single-season hits chart. Schutzenhofer now has 234 career hits, one more than D.J. Svihlik and seven away from Mark Dalesandro, who is eighth on the list with 241 hits. 2. After hitting .353 as a team for the first three games of the season, Illinois saw its offensive output putter to a stop against U of L lefthander Zach Jackson. The shutout was the first time Illinois has failed to score 10 or more runs, or collect 10 or more hits, in a game this season.