April 15, 2009

Box Score

MARION, Ill. - Illinois used a six-run sixth inning to grab a 6-5 lead but surrendered four runs in the bottom of the eighth as Southern Illinois won, 9-6, at Rent One Park on Wednesday. Freshman second baseman Josh Parr (Chillicothe, Ill.) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and junior reliever John Anderson (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) tossed two scoreless innings of relief as the Illini fall to 21-10 on the season.

"We didn't play well at all tonight," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We really haven't played well all week and have to improve in a hurry."

SIU (15-20) jumped on top with a run in the second after a runner reached on a dropped third strike, a base hit, a walk and a sacrifice fly against starter Lee Zerrusen. Reliever Mike Sterk pitched a scoreless third inning but Blake Fairchild came on for the fourth and gave up a single, hit a batter, bobbled a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases and allowed a first-pitch grand slam to left fielder Jordan Sivertsen to put the Salukis on top 5-1.

But Illinois responded with a six-run rally in the sixth inning. Center fielder Joe Bonadonna (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) ripped a base hit through the left side to lead off the frame and left fielder Casey McMurray (Willow Springs, Ill.) doubled to the gap in left-center to put runners at second and third. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) walked to load the bases and third baseman Dominic Altobelli (Oak Forest, Ill.) was hit by a pitch to force in a run. After a pitching change, catcher Aaron Johnson (Sussex Corner, New Brunswick) also was plunked to plate McMurray. Wikoff came home on a wild pitch and, one out later, right fielder Pete Cappetta (Lisle, Ill.) drove in Altobelli with a sacrifice fly. DH Willie Argo (Davenport, Iowa) legged out a single deep in the hole on the left side as Johnson scampered home and Parr then laced a double to right-center, bringing home Argo and giving the Illini a 6-5 lead.

Reliever Corey Kimes (Ottawa, Ill.) pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, then came back out for the eighth. He retired the first hitter he faced before giving up a base hit to left and a stolen base. Kimes appeared to get a groundout to Wikoff at shortstop, but his throw pulled Matt Dittman (Libertyville, Ill.) off the bag at first and runners were safe at the corners. Aaron Martin (Georgetown, Ill.) relieved Kimes and gave up a sacrifice fly, which tied the score, before allowing a single, a triple and another base hit to bring home three more runs that put SIU ahead, 9-6. The Salukis retired Illinois in order in the ninth to win their second-straight and second in a row over the Illini.

Zerrusen allowed only an unearned run on two hits and a walk in two innings, striking out two. Mike Sterk (Oak Lawn, Ill.) pitched a scoreless third inning with a strikeout and Anderson only allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one. Kimes ended up allowing two unearned runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Up Next: Illinois returns home for a conference series against No. 23 Minnesota beginning with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch on Friday.