Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

Rock Hill, S.C. - Illinois used three home runs and a solid relief performance to take down its first ranked opponent since 2003 as it defeated host No. 21 Winthrop 7-6 at the NIA Shootout.

Chris Robinson, Dusty Bensko and Drew Davidson each homered for the Illini and junior transfer Matt Whitmore threw four innings of four-hit ball, allowing two runs and striking out four while walking only one to shut the door on the Eagles. Bensko went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and sophomore transfer Mike Rohde went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI for his first multiple-hit game as an Illini.

"We got some clutch hits and some nice home runs," said Illinois coach Richard "Itch" Jones. "Those are three home runs by three guys who are going to be an instrumental part of our ball club if we have a lot of success."

Whitmore worked out of trouble in the bottom of the ninth when Winthrop put runners on first and second with no outs. He allowed an RBI double to the next batter, but then retired the next three Eagle hitters to finish off Winthrop.

"We got outstanding pitching out of (starter) Jimmy Conroy and Whitmore came on in relief and did an excellent job until the ninth inning," Jones said. "He got in a little trouble in the ninth, but with the tying run on second base he reached back and got us a victory."

Illinois struck with three in the second inning after Winthrop scored one in the first. Third baseman Chad Frk led off the inning with a double down the left field line, then scored on designated hitter Mike Rohde's first hit as an Illini, a single over the third baseman. First baseman Dusty Bensko singled to left, then Rohde scored after two wild pitches. One out later, Trevor Huisinga continued his hot start to the season with an RBI single up the middle to drive in Bensko from third and give Illinois a 3-1 lead.

After Winthrop pulled back ahead with a three-run fourth inning, Illini catcher Chris Robinson tied the game 4-4 in the fifth with his solo home run off the scoreboard in right-center field. Left fielder Drew Davidson added to the power surge with a solo shot of his own in the sixth inning. Davidson's tape-measure shot to left field was estimated at 406 feet and put the Illini back on top 5-4. Bensko added his own blast in the eighth, a solo homer off Winthrop preseason All-American pitcher Jon Wilson, to increase the Illinois lead to 6-4.

The Illini added an insurance run in the ninth inning after a two-out rally. Center fielder Ryan Rogowski singled to center field, then moved to second when Robinson walked. Rogowski and Robinson then executed a double-steal, and Rogowski scored when the throw to third base went into the outfield, giving Illinois a 7-4 lead.

Conroy threw five solid innings for the Illini, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking only one. He picks up his first win of the season, and Whitmore records his first save as an Illini in his first appearance.