May 1, 2004

Box Score

The University of Illinois baseball team dropped the second game of its Saturday doubleheader, 2-1, to Penn State in eight innings on a chilly and wet evening at Illinois Field. The loss drops Illinois to 0-3 in its series against PSU and to 16-24 overall and 7-12 in the Big Ten. PSU improves to 23-18 overall and 12-7 in the Big Ten.

Penn State took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap when Lance Thompson sent a two-out single to right in the top of the third and scored when Mike Milliron followed with a double to center.

Illinois answered in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at one when Eric Eymann led off with a double, went to third on a Chris Robinson sacrifice and scored on a Ryan Rogowksi ground out.

Penn State got the lead back once the game had gone into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Milliron singled with one out, stole second and came in on a single from Brett Showalter to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.

Illini starter Tim Gorski suffered the loss, falling to 4-1 on the year, after allowing two runs on six hits in eight complete innings of work. PSU reliever Clint Eury got the win, moving to 2-0 on the year, after throwing two innings of scoreless relief.

Illinois and Penn State conclude their four-game set Sunday with a single game scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch.