May 2, 2006

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Lars Davis hit a two-run walk-off home run after Trevor Huisinga doubled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to beat St. Xavier 6-4 in dramatic fashion at Illinois Field. Dave Schultz was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI as Illinois improved to 24-19 overall.

Illinois entered the bottom of the ninth down 4-3 after giving up the lead in the top half when St. Xavier scored twice off Illini closer Jake Toohey. Shortstop Shawn Roof reached when Cougar second baseman Craig Buske mishandled his bunt pop-up, but Roof was thrown out stealing and first baseman Dave Schultz struck out as Illinois was down to its last out. But designated hitter Trevor Huisinga blooped a double down the left-field line and third baseman Mike Rohde drove him in with a first-pitch single through the right side to bring up catcher Lars Davis. He ripped a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center for a two-run, walk-off homer to give Illinois a 6-4 win.

The Illini pulled ahead with a run in the first inning after Ryan Snowden led off with a double and moved to third on Shawn Roof's groundout. Dave Schultz was hit by a pitch and Chase Kliment drove in Snowden with a sacrifice fly to right-center, giving Illinois a 1-0 lead.

The Orange and Blue added another run in the third when Roof doubled to right-center and advanced to third on a fielding error by the right fielder. Schultz drove him in with a soft single through the right side to make Illinois' lead 2-0.

But St. Xavier scored a run in the fifth off Illini reliever Andy Sigerich and added another in the sixth off Aaron Saving to tie the score 2-2. Illinois regained the lead with a run in the seventh when Roof reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and stole second on the first pitch to Schultz. Schultz then doubled to deep center field, driving in Roof and putting Illinois up 3-2.

The Cougars struck again in the ninth, though, stringing together four hits and a walk to score a pair of runs off Illini closer Jake Toohey and take a 4-3 lead. But Illinois battled back, scoring three runs with two outs off a double, a single and a walk-off homer.