March 14, 2009

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior third baseman Dominic Altobelli drove in the winning run in game one with a bases-loaded single and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs in game two as No. 21 Illinois swept a pair of games against Akron, 4-3 and 13-9. The win in game one marked head coach Dan Hartleb's 100th career victory and the victory in the second game improved Illinois' record to 10-2, its best start to a season since opening the 2002 campaign 11-1.

The Illini strung together a pair of walks and a base hit to set the stage for Altobelli's opening-game heroics before using 15 hits to score double digits in game two, the third time in the last five games that the Orange and Blue have topped the 10-run mark.

"In the first game, we did a nice job of not getting rattled and then coming up with a big hit," Hartleb said. "Then we jumped on them early in game one. For the most part, we pitched well and played good defense all day, which is especially important in these seven-inning games."

In the first game, Akron scored a run in the third on a leadoff home run, but Illinois fought back with a leadoff home run by DH Willie Argo, his fourth of the year. The Zips added a tally in the fourth, but the Illini took their first lead of the game in the bottom half with a two-run frame. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff drew a leadoff walk and Altobelli was hit by a pitch. After a double steal, Wikoff scored on a fielding error and Altobelli came home on a sacrifice fly for a 3-2 advantage.

But Akron tied the game in the sixth on a walk and a double, setting the stage for the Illini rally in the seventh. Closer Nick Chmielewski relieved starter Ben Reeser in the seventh and gave up a leadoff walk but got the lead runner on an attempted sacrifice bunt. After a base hit, Chmielewski induced a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Center fielder Joe Bonadonna led off the bottom half with a walk and stole second. Left fielder Casey McMurray singled to right but the ball was hit on a line, not allowing Bonadonna to score. Wikoff was walked intentionally and Altobelli drove the first pitch he saw to deep right-center, hitting a one-hopper off the wall to drive in Bonadonna for the 4-3 win.

In game two, the Illini scored three in the first inning and two more in the second, and never looked back. McMurray ripped a one-out single and, one out later, Altobelli doubled him in. Catcher Aaron Johnson then ripped a 1-1 pitch to left for his third homer of the season, a two-run bomb that put Illinois ahead 3-0.

After starter Bryan Roberts worked a quick second inning, second baseman Josh Parr beat out an infield hit to the hole on the left side and advanced to second when the shortstop's throw was wide of first base. Bonadonna drove him in with a base hit up the middle and moved to second when McMurray reached on a poor throw by the third baseman. Wikoff drove in Bonadonna with another single up the middle, posting the Illini to a 5-0 lead.

Akron battled back with a pair of runs in the fourth, but the Illini bounced back with an eight-run frame, their highest-scoring inning of the season, in the fifth. Wikoff led off with a double and Altobelli tripled to the corner in right. Johnson doubled home Altobelli and first baseman Matt Dittman walked. Catcher Chris Montgomery doubled down the right-field line, driving in Johnson, and pinch hitter Craig Lutes drove in two with his double. Parr legged out an infield hit and, one out later, Wikoff drove in a run with a groundout. Altobelli followed that with his second extra-base hit of the day, doubling home two more runs to give Illinois a 13-2 lead. The Zips put up a seven-spot in the seventh, but reliever Wes Braun eventually finished the inning after giving up a double and a three-run homer, and the Illini won, 13-9.

On the day, Altobelli was 4-for-7 with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs and three runs. Parr was 3-for-6 with two runs, and Wikoff was 3-for-6 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and a steal. Argo went 2-for-4 with a homer, an RBI and a run, and Johnson was 2-for-5 with a double, a homer, four RBIs, two runs and a steal. Reeser allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out six Zips hitters, allowing Akron to hit just .167.

Illinois and Akron finish the series with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.