March 4, 2006

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - Illinois won its second straight game behind four hits from sophomore catcher Lars Davis and solid pitching, taking out South Florida 7-3. The Illini racked up 13 hits and turned a pair of double plays while scoring all their runs in three straight innings and bringing their season record within a game of the .500 mark.

"I'm pleased with the progress we're making," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "We still have a long way to go, but the players have done a good job of making adjustments."

After giving up a run in the first inning, the Illini grabbed the lead with a pair in the third. With one out, right fielder Trevor Huisinga reached on a fielder's choice and scored on second baseman Ryan Hastings' triple to right-center field. Third baseman Mike Rohde then drove in Hastings with an infield hit to stake Illinois to a 2-1 lead and increase his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Illini gave up a run in the third but recovered with three in the fourth inning. First baseman Dave Schultz walked to lead off the frame and, one out later, moved to second on Davis' base hit. Shortstop Shawn Roof singled to load the bases and centerfielder Kyle Hudson's groundout drove in Schultz. Huisinga then singled to right to plate Davis, and Roof scored when the right fielder mishandled the grounder to give Illinois a 5-2 lead.

The Orange and Blue struck again in the fifth when Chase Kliment hit his first home run at Illinois, a two-out shot to left field. Davis followed with his second straight single and moved to third on Roof's base hit to right field. Hudson then drove in Davis with a single through the right side to increase the Illini lead to 7-2. The Bulls scored once in the sixth but managed only one baserunner after Illinois' Matt Whitmore entered in relief in the seventh inning.

Starting pitcher Jake Toohey gave Illinois a solid start, tossing six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one. Whitmore was very sharp in his first outing of the season, tossing three shutout, no-hit innings, striking out two and walking one while facing one more than the minimum to earn the save.

"Jake and Matt did a very good job," Hartleb said. "They got in a couple of tight situations, but made some nice pitches and turned over a couple of double plays. We don't have to strike out a ton of hitters, we just need to be down in the zone and let our defense make plays."

Davis was 4-for-5 on the day with a pair of runs, and Roof was 2-for-3 with a run. Hastings went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run, and Hudson scored twice while extending his hitting streak to four games. The Illini were flawless in the field for the first time this season in addition to the pair of double plays.