March 20, 2004

Box Score

Rock Hill, SC - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped an 8-6 extra inning heartbreaker against Winthrop Saturday afternoon. Illinois pounded out 14 hits to plate its six runs but Winthrop hit a bottom of the 11th game winning home run to improve to 10-8 on the year while Illinois dropped to 3-7 on the season.

Illinois strung together four straight singles to take an early lead in the top half of the second inning. Dusty Bensko, J.R. Kyes and Ryan Rogowski loaded the bases for Eric Eymann, who continued to break out of his early season slump with a sharp single down the line that scored both Bensko and Kyes for the early 2-0 lead.

But Winthrop got it all back in the bottom half of the second. Third baseman David Scoggin hit a solo home run over the centerfield wall, and Daniel Carte followed with a double to left and eventually came around to score on a passed ball.

Illinois added a pair in the top of the third to reclaim the lead at 4-2. Ryan Hastings and Chad Frk hit back-to-back singles, and Bensko laced a two-out double down the left field line to score Hastings from second and Frk all the way from first.

Illinois extended its lead to 5-2 in the top of the fifth. Frk singled, Bensko doubled him to third and Kyes brought him home with a one-out ground out.

Winthrop started to make it interesting in the bottom of the eighth. Andy Sigerich and Tim Gorski struggled out of the bullpen, allowing a pair of runs to move the score to within 5-4 and leaving the bases loaded with the tying run on third and two outs. Illinois called on James Morris and he answered, escaping the jam and stranding the tying runner at third by getting Daniel Carte to strike out looking for the third out.

Illinois added insurance in the top of the ninth. Hastings picked up a two-out single, stole second and scored when Chad Frk singled up the middle to open a 6-4 lead.

Winthrop came back again in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game with a pair of runs, off Morris. The first scored on an RBI single from catcher Chris Leroux and the second on a wild pitch to send the game to extra innings.

Brandon Murphy came in to start the 10th and threw a scoreless 10th but allowed two runs (one earned) in the 11th to drop to 0-1 on the season.

Offensively, Bensko led the way for Illinois, finishing his day 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Hastings and Frk each had three hits, while Eymann joined Bensko who two RBI.

Illinois starter Joe Ziemba enjoyed another stellar outing, working seven complete innings while allowing only two runs (one earned) runs on three hits. Sigerich allowed two runs and did not record an out, while Gorski walked one and allowed one hit in 1/3 of an inning of work. Morris allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out four in 1 1/3 innings.

Winthrop starter Chase Edwards allowed five runs on nine hits in four-plus innings of work but did not factor in the decision. Reliever Jonathan Settle threw the next 5 1/3 innings, getting Edwards off the hook by allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven to give the Winthrop offense the chance to stage a comeback. Closer Chris Leroux threw the final xx innings,

Illinois and Winthrop continue their three-game series Sunday with a single game scheduled for a 2 p.m. (eastern) first pitch. Monday's series finale begins at 6 p.m. eastern.