April 7, 2008

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Illini first baseman Ryan Hastings recorded his first career five-hit game and catcher Aaron Johnson drove in five runs as Illinois came back from a three-run deficit to blow out Indiana, 18-8, and win their second Big Ten series. Hastings was 5-for-6 on the day, Johnson went 3-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs, and shortstop Brandon Wikoff was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs.

"We swung the bats very well," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Hastings and Johnson are a couple of guys who were able to find their stroke today and that will only give us a stronger lineup."

Indiana jumped on top in the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits and three walks, as Illinois starter Aaron Martin nearly doubled his season walks allowed total in one frame. Illinois got a run back in the second, though, as third baseman Dominic Altobelli walked and advanced to third on Hastings' base hit through the right side. Altobelli came across when DH Daniel Webb hit into a double play to cut the margin to 3-1.

Illinois pulled closer in the third when Altobelli knocked a two-out single through the left side and came home when Hastings ripped a double over the right-fielder's head, making the score 3-2 in Indiana's favor.

The Fighting Illini then exploded with nine runs on six hits in the fourth inning. Johnson reached on a throw in the dirt by the shortstop and right fielder Craig Lutes walked. Johnson then moved up a base on left fielder Casey McMurray's flyout to right-center. Center fielder Kyle Hudson followed drove in Johnson with a base hit and second baseman Joe Bonadonna knocked in Lutes with a single to left-center. Hudson scored on a wild pitch and Bonadonna came home on Wikoff's single. One out later, Hastings reached on a bloop base hit to center and Wikoff scored when the center fielder mishandled it. Webb drew a walk, then he and Hastings moved up a base before Johnson singled to left-center, driving in both runners. Lutes walked and McMurray ripped a double to left-center to plate Johnson as Illinois took an 11-3 lead.

Indiana got two runs back in the fourth after a hit batter, a walk and a double, making the Illini lead 11-5. Illinois tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when McMurray reached on an erorr but was put out on Hudson's grounder to second. Hudson moved to third on Bonadonna's single and came home on Wikoff's sacrifice fly to right-center, pushing the Illini lead to 12-5.

The Hoosiers scored three in the seventh on three hits, two hit batters and a walk as Martin was lifted in favor of reliever Mike Sterk, who struck out Indiana second baseman Evan Crawford and got Hoosier slugger Josh Phegley to line out softly to Bonadonna to end the inning with the Illini leading, 12-8.

With one out, Hudson reached on an error and stole second. Bonadonna walked and advanced to second on a double-steal when Hudson was caught stealing at third. Wikoff drove in Bonadonna with a single and moved to second on Altobelli's walk. Hastings singled to center to drive in Wikoff then Webb reached on an infield hit to second base. Crawford gloved the grounder but his flip to the bag was well over shortstop Tyler Rogers' glove, allowing Altobelli to score. With runners on first and second, Johnson jumped on a first-pitch fastball for his first career home run, a three-run shot, to give the Illini an 18-8 lead. Freshman Phil Haig came in to pitch the ninth and struck out the side after giving up two hits to start the inning.

On the weekend, Wikoff and Hastings each hit .467 with Wikoff driving in a team-high seven runs and scoring four, while Hastings doubled, drove in three and scored three. Hudson hit .412 with a team-best six runs and stole 6-of-8 bases, Johnson hit .444 with five RBIs and Webb hit .400 with two RBIs.

Up Next: Illinois plays its fifth game in four days Tuesday when it travels to O'Brien Field in Peoria to face Bradley in a 6 p.m. start. Sophomore Billy Barrett will take the hill for the Illini.