March 31, 2007

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Righthanders Scott Shaw and Mike Stankiewicz each tossed complete games as Illinois split a doubleheader with Purdue, winning the first game 9-4 and falling 2-1 in the nightcap. Leftfielder Ryan Snowden finished the day 3-for-7 with two runs and an RBI, increasing his career-best hitting streak to 17 games. Shortstop Shawn Roof went 3-for-6 with a double, three RBI, a run and a steal as Illinois won two of the first three games of the series.

Illinois (9-10 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten) got on the board in game one with a run in the first inning. Snowden and third baseman Brandon Wikoff drew back-to-back walks to start the game and moved up a base on a wild pitch. One out later, rightfielder Daniel Webb drove them in with a groundout to the right side of the infield for a 1-0 lead.

Purdue (11-10, 1-2) took its first lead of the series with a four-run second inning, but the Illini jumped back on top with a six-spot in the third. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson led off with a single and stole second. Snowden singled to drive him in, then moved to second when PU catcher Spencer Ingaldson mishandled the throw to the plate. Wikoff moved Snowden to third with a base hit and catcher Lars Davis drove a double to the gap in left-center to plate Snowden. One out later, first baseman Mike Rohde singled home Wikoff and Roof's double down the right-field line drove in Davis. Rohde scored when the rightfielder misplayed Roof's hit off the fence, also allowing Roof to move to third. One out later, second baseman Ryan Hastings singled home Roof for a 7-4 lead.

"We had a rough second inning both on the mound and defensively and gave up four runs, but our offense jumped right back in with six runs, and that put the doubt back in Purdue's minds," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Then we got a big hit from Roof a few innings later that put the game away."

That's when Shaw settled down on the mound, giving up just three hits over his final five innings of work, including retiring the final six Purdue hitters. He also induced an inning-ending double play in the fourth that came with runners on first and second. For the game, the redshirt-sophomore gave up four runs on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in his seven-inning outing, pushing his record to 3-1 on the season.

Illinois pushed across two more runs in the sixth. With one out, Wikoff reached on a throwing error by the second baseman and Davis singled. Webb walked to load the bases and, one out later, Roof drove home two with a base hit up the middle for a 9-4 lead.

In the nightcap, Stankiewicz started strong for the Illini, facing just one hitter more than the minimum through three innings. It was the first time this season he didn't allow at least two runs in the first inning. But the Boilers scratched across a pair of runs in the fourth, bunching together four hits, including a pair of two-out RBI singles, to take a 2-0 lead.

Illinois fought back with a run in the fifth after Rohde doubled to lead off the inning. Roof singled him to third and stole second. One out later, Hastings drove home Rohde with a sacrifice fly to deep center, but that was all the offense the Illini could muster. In both the sixth and seventh, Illinois got its lead-off hitter on base and moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt, but neither time were the Orange and Blue able to push across the tying run in falling, 2-1.

"I was impressed with both pitchers (Stankiewicz and Purdue starter Ricky Heines, who also tossed a complete game)," Hartleb said. "Purdue was able to bunch together some hits and that was the difference. But if our pitching staff will continue to battle the way they have this weekend, we'll be in good shape."

Stankiewicz took the hard-luck loss despite his best outing of the season. He gave up a career-best two runs on six hits in six innings, not allowing a walk and striking out two.

On the day, Davis went 3-for-7 with a double, two runs and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. Rohde also extended his career-best nine-game streak with a 2-for-6 day, a double, two RBI and two runs.

Up Next: The Illini and Boilers finish their four-game series with a noon (CT) start on Sunday with Illinois looking for a series win and Purdue fighting for a split.