May 4, 2004

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, ILL - The Illinois baseball team beat MacMurray College in a 24-0 slugfest this afternoon at Illinois Field. The win improved the Illini to 17-25 overall, while MacMurray drops to 7-26.

The Illini got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs. Trevor Huisinga and Ryan Rogowski opened the game with back-to-back singles. After Eric Eymann lined out to left, Chris Robinson also singled to load the bases. Drew Davidson walked to bring home Huisinga, and then Trevor Fredrickson followed with a grand slam over the right field wall, his first homerun of the season.

In the second inning, the Illini also brought five runs home. With the bases loaded, Chris Robinson stepped up to the plate and belted the second grand slam of the game for the Illini. Drew Davidson followed that with another homerun to put the Illini up 10-0 after two innings.

After the Illini added one run in the third, six more came home in the fourth, highlighted by the second grand slam of the day by Robinson over the center field wall.

The Illini scored one in the fifth, and brought six more around to score in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double by freshman Ryan Hastings and an RBI single by pitcher Jonathan Smiley.

Starter Brandon Murphy (1-2) picked up the win, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out four and not allowing a hit.

Offensively, Robinson led the attack, hitting 4-5 with two homeruns, both grand slams, and eight RBI's. Huisinga also added four hits, while Rogowski and Dusty Bensko each collected three hits. Fredrickson also hit a grand slam, while Davidson bombed his eighth homerun of the season.

The Illini return to the field tomorrow, May 5th, against Blackburn College at Illinois Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.