April 17, 2004

Box Score

Ann Arbor, Mich. - For the second day in a row, a four-run Michigan inning after an Illinois rally spelled doom for the Illinois baseball team as it dropped the second game of its series at Michigan, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium on the UM campus. The loss drops Illinois to 10-19 overall and 3-7 in the Big Ten, while Michigan moves to 18-12 overall and 7-3 in the Big Ten.

With a line-up shuffled to feature primarily left-handed bats against righthanded starter Derek Feldkamp, Illinois grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Ryan Hastings drew a one-out walk and went to third when Chad Frk followed with a single to center. With runners at first and third, Ryan Rogowski followed Frk with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Hastings to give Illinois the 1-0 lead.

As has been a problem all year, though, Illinois gave that run and more back immediately in the bottom of the first. An Illinois error, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out for catcher Jeff Kunkel, who doubled down the right field line to plate a pair of runs and give UM a 2-1 lead. Two-straight singles followed as Michigan added another pair of runs to open a 4-1 lead off starter Ted Rowe.

Illinois added a single run in the top half of the second. Trevor Frederickson led off with a walk, made his away around the bases and eventually scored when Michigan third baseman A.J. Scheidt booted a two-out ground ball from Drew Davidson that allowed Frederickson to scamper home safely to close the gap to 4-2.

Michigan added insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Roberts led off with a double to deep left, and pinch hitter came around to score when Jeremy Goldschmeding followed with a single to center to open a 5-2 lead off reliever Emanuel Bishop.

Rowe suffered the loss, falling to 1-5 on the year, after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out one, walked two and hit a pair of batters. Feldkamp, the reigning Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week along with Illini senior Tim Gorski, got the win, moving to 4-3 on the year after allowing two runs on four hits in seven complete innings of work.

Offensively, Ryan Hastings was perfect on the day, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.

Illinois and Michigan conclude their four-game conference series with a single game Sunday. First pitch is set for noon central on Sunday.