May 2, 2004

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped its series finale, 4-0, to Penn State this afternoon at Illinois Field. The loss gives Penn State a four-game series sweep, and drops Illinois to 16-25 overall and 7-13 in the Big Ten. The win moves Penn State to 24-18 overall and 13-7 in the Big Ten.

Penn State struck first on Sunday. Brett Showalter tripled with one out in the top of the fifth and came home when Derrick Barr followed with a suicide squeeze.

PSU added to its lead in the seventh. Travis Laird and Jim Leitgeb led off with back-to-back infield singles, and both came in three batters later when Mike Milliron doubled down the left field line to give the Nittany Lions a 3-0 lead.

Penn State added a single run in the top of the ninth after a lead-off double came around to score on a one-out RBI single from pinch hitter Colin Runt.

Illinois starter Jimmy Conroy threw well, allowing only three runs on eight hits in seven complete innings of work. He struck out seven while falling to 6-4 on the year. PSU starter Clayton Hamilton threw nine complete, shutting out Illinois while allowing only three hits in moving to 4-3 on the year.

Illinois returns to action Tuesday afternoon at home against MacMurray College. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. Illinois also plays at home Wednesday at 4:05 p.m. against Blackburn College.