May 4, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois notched a five-run fifth inning and freshman Phil Haig turned in his best start of the year as Illinois won the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with Northwestern, 11-5, to split the twinbill. The Wildcats managed to hold off the Orange and Blue in game one, 4-3, as Illinois stranded four runners in scoring position in the final two innings.

"Phil did a nice job of pitching out of trouble a few times and not allowing a big inning," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "And the offense gave him the opportunity to get comfortable by giving him a lead early in the game."

In the nightcap, Northwestern took a one-run lead in the first when second baseman Jake Owens reached second on a dropped fly ball by right fielder Nick Stockwell, moved to third on a base hit and came home on a double-play ground ball.

But Illinois fought back with a two-run second inning. With one out, DH Daniel Webb drew a walk and moved to third on first baseman Ryan Hastings' line-drive single to right. Hastings stole second and third baseman John Schlichter followed with a double just inside the third-base bag that drove in both runners for a 2-1 Illini advantage.

The Orange and Blue tacked on to their lead in the third when second baseman Joe Bonadonna legged out a bunt single and center fielder Kyle Hudson turned on a first-pitch fastball, depositing it over the right-field fence for his first career home run to make the score 4-1. In the fourth, Northwestern cut the lead to two with one run on a hit batter, a stolen base and wild throw to second, and a single.

But Illinois posted a five-run fifth that was capped off by Schlichter's first career home run. Hudson led off with a bunt single and stole second then shortstop Brandon Wikoff drew a walk. Catcher Aaron Johnson followed with a two-run single to left-center and advanced to second on the throw home. Webb drove him in with a base hit to right and, one out later, Schlichter blasted an opposite-field shot to right-center for his first homer in the Orange and Blue, pushing the lead to 11-2. Northwestern got three in the top of the seventh on a three-run homer by Jake Owens, making the final score 11-5.

In the opener, Northwestern got on top with a pair of runs in the third inning, but the Illini fought back with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Hudson drew a leadoff walk and stole second, breaking the Big Ten single-season stolen base record in conference games. A groundout moved him to third and Johnson drove him in with a base hit through the left side, making the score 2-1.

But the Wildcats got the run back in the fifth on a one-out double, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, pushing their advantage to 3-1. Illinois fought back for a run in the sixth when Bonadonna led off with a single and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and Hudson walked. Wikoff laced a single into center to drive in Bonadonna and move Hudson to third. Wikoff stole second, but a strikeout, a shallow flyout, an intentional walk and a popout ended the inning with the bases loaded and Northwestern clinging to a 3-2 lead.

The Wildcats tacked on a solo homer by first baseman Jake Goebbert in the top of the seventh, which proved to be the winning run. Illinois looked to rally in the bottom half when Stockwell reached on an infield hit. Two outs later, Hudson walked and Wikoff doubled down the left-field line to bring in Stockwell and put runners on second and third. But Johnson flew out to right field to end the game, 4-3 in Northwestern's favor.

Up Next: Illinois and the Wildcats finish their series with a 6 p.m. start on Monday as the Illini look for their fourth Big Ten series victory of the season.