April 6, 2005

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The second verse was similar to the first, as Illinois dropped its second consecutive game to Western Michigan in an offense-dominated 22-15 game. Dusty Bensko homered twice in the first inning and finished 2-for-4 with two runs and seven RBI, and centerfielder Drew Davidson homered for the third consecutive game and went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.

Illinois' pitching and defense once again struggled, giving up 22 runs on 23 hits and committing nine errors as the Illini fell to 14-7-1 on the season. The Illini led the Big Ten in both ERA and fielding percentage heading into the two-game set vs. WMU, but that will likely change after allowing 34 runs on 33 hits and committing 13 errors in the series.

"It was the same situation as last night," Illinois coach Itch Jones said. "We didn't get good pitching, and our defense didn't help our pitchers at all. Part of that is how hard the other team hits the ball, but we weren't very good, either."

The Broncos (11-11) opened the game by batting around and scoring five runs in the first inning, but Illinois responded by sending 14 men to the plate en route to an 11-run first inning. Bensko homered to drive in second baseman J.R. Kyes and left fielder Ryan Rogowski with one out, then cleared the bases with a two-out grand slam to give the Illini an 11-5 lead.

However, Bensko, who had relieved starter Emanuel Bishop after 1/3 of an inning, gave up six runs in the second inning, all earned as Western Michigan tied the score. The Broncos added four runs in the fourth, but Illinois responded with two apiece in the fourth and fifth innings, however, WMU reliever Dan Coberly induced a double play to end the fifth and didn't allow a hit the rest of the way (4 2/3 innings of relief) to shut down the Illini.

"We use different pitchers in the midweek games, and they just swung the bats better than we did," Jones said. "We didn't continue to hit well after we scored 11 runs in the first and they did."

Kyes scored three times for the Illini, finishing 1-for-4, and Rogowski scored twice and stole his 13th base of the season on a 1-for-4 performance. Shawn Roof, who got the start at third base, went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Aaron Ifft took advantage of his midweek start at catcher, driving in two runs with a base hit in the first inning.

Illinois (14-7-1, 4-0) returns to action this weekend, traveling to East Lansing, Mich., for a four-game series with Michigan State. The teams open the set at 2:05 p.m. Friday, play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12:05 p.m., and finish the series at 12:05 p.m. Sunday.