March 23, 2004

Box Score

Charlotte, N.C. - The University of Illinois baseball team fell to Charlotte 8-5 this afternoon in Charlotte, N.C. The loss drops Illinois to 4-9 on the season while Charlotte improves to 12-6.

Illinois didn't waste any time getting on the board Tuesday. Vince DiMaria, Ryan Hastings, Chad Frk and Drew Davidson led off the game with four straight singles against Charlotte starter Matthew Foard, and DiMaria came in on Frk's single to give the Illini a 1-0 lead after half an inning.

But Charlotte came right back on starter Andy Sigerich. The sophomore allowed a single, double and another single to lead off the inning and watched the 49ers plate two to move the score to 2-1. DiMaria got Illinois out of further trouble when he threw a runner out at third from right field to end the inning.

Illinois tied the game at two in the top half of the third. Ryan Hastings, who reached on a one-out error, scored from third on a Davidson single to left.

Charlotte came right back in the bottom of the third, chasing Sigerich after touching him up for four runs on three doubles to claim a 6-2 lead.

Illinois started to climb back in the top of the fifth when Davidson nailed a two-run home run over the wall in left to move the score to within two at 6-4.

The rally was short lived, however, as Charlotte added a single run in both the sixth and seventh to move its lead to four at 8-4.

Illinois added a single run in the ninth inning to close the gap to the final 8-5 margin.

Offensively Illinois was led by Davidson's 3-for-4, three RBI day. His home run was his third of the season. Ryan Hastings also added three hits for the Illini.

Sigerich fell to 0-2 on the year after allowing six runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of work. He walked one and struck out one. Tim Gorski finished the game up for Illinois, throwing the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out five. Charlotte starter Matthew Foard earned the win, improving to 1-0 on the year after allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings of work.

Illinois continues its Spring Trip Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C. with a single game against North Carolina A&T beginning at 4 p.m. eastern.