March 22, 2004

Box Score

Rock Hill, SC - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped the rubber match of its series with Winthrop, falling 9-2 to the Eagles Monday evening in Rock Hill, S.C. Illinois gave up a pair of three-run innings and the offense mustered only two runs on nine hits in dropping to 4-8 on the year while watching Winthrop improve to 11-9.

Winthrop got on the board first on Monday. In the bottom of the second, Illini starter Ted Rowe hit the first two batters before giving up a three-run home run to Tommy Lentz as the Eagles opened an early 3-0 lead.

Illinois began its comeback in the top half of the fourth inning. Trevor Huisinga singled and later scored on a Chad Frk double. Drew Davidson followed Frk and closed the margin to 3-2 with a triple to deep center that scored Frk from second.

Winthrop added a single runs in the bottom of the sixth to open a 4-2 lead and blew it open with a three-spot in the seventh for a 7-2 lead. The Eagles added a pair in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Aaron Saving for the final 9-2 lead.

Illini starter Ted Rowe suffered the loss, dropping to 1-2 on the year after allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. He struck out a career-high 10 and did not walk a batter. Winthrop starter Kevin Slowey got the win, moving to 2-3 on the year, after allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine in eight innings of work.

Illinois continues its Spring Trip Tuesday with a 4 p.m. eastern game at Charlotte.