March 6, 2004

Box Score

Tampa, Fla. - A five-run fourth and four-run seventh doomed the Illinois baseball team this afternoon as it dropped a 10-4 game to the University of South Florida on the USF campus in Tampa, Fla. The loss drops Illinois to 2-4 on the year while USF improves to 9-4 overall.

USF jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Mike Macaluso singled with one out and came in from second on a two-out run-scoring single from catcher Devin Ivany.

Illinois came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the top half of the second. Trevor Frederickson sent a one-out double to center, went to third on a Drew Davidson single and scored when Trevor Huisinga followed with a single of his own to center.

But USF answered against Illinois starter Jimmy Conroy in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulls put five runs on the board, highlighted by a Jeremy Brand three-run home run and Bryan Hierlmeier solo shot, to open a 6-1 lead.

Illinois started to come back in the top of the sixth. Chad Frk, Dusty Bensko and Frederickson loaded the bases with no one out for Davidson, who sent a single to center that plated Frk. One out later Eric Eymann sent a ground ball up the middle that scored Bensko and cut the lead to 6-3.

USF added four runs in the seventh off UI reliever Jonathan Smiley, two from Jeremy Brand's second home run of the day, to open a 10-3 margin.

The Illini tacked on one in the eighth when Drew Davidson reached on a two-out error and came around from first on Huisinga's second double of the day.

USF starter Casey Hudspeth earned the win to improve to 1-1 on the year. He allowed three runs on 11 hits while striking out six. He did not walk a batter. Reliever Chase Lirette, who entered the game at 6-3, earned a save, his first of the year. Conroy (1-1) suffered the loss. He allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings of work while walking one and striking out four.

Offensively, Illinois got three hits, including two doubles, from Huisinga, and two hits each from Ryan Hastings, Frk, Frederickson and Davidson.

Illinois and South Florida will conclude their three-game series Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon eastern time.