March 18, 2010

Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Illinois battled back twice to tie the game at six and again at seven, but gave up a run in the eighth and fell 8-7 to Bucknell at Chain of Lakes Stadium to begin its Spring Trip. Center fielder Willie Argo finished the day 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, and the bullpen was solid over the final four innings, only allowing one run and two hits.

"We got in a hole, but found a way to scrap, get back in the game and tie it up," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "The bullpen did a very good job today and gave us an opportunity to win, but we did not play a complete game. We were not very good defensively and did not execute offensively, so until we execute, we will be a team that struggles. We are very capable of winning games, but each player needs to get their job done on a consistent basis."

The Illini jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first thanks to heads up base-running from Argo, who singled, stole second and then scored from second on a flyout to deep right field when the Bison second baseman mishandled the relay throw. Bucknell responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs on four doubles to go ahead 3-1.

The Bison added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and went ahead 5-1 while the Illini kept pace with two runs of their own in the top of third. Argo led off the inning with a double and an out later, catcher Aaron Johnson walked and first baseman Matt Dittman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, third baseman Brandon Hohl sent a laser up the middle, plating Argo and Johnson and pulling the Illini back within two runs at 5-3.

Bucknell tacked on a run with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the frame, but Illinois tied it at six apiece with three runs in the top of the fourth. Second baseman Christian Cummins reached on an infield single to third followed by a single from shortstop Josh Parr and a hit by pitch from Argo to load the bases. Giller knocked in the Illini middle infielders with a sharp double to right center and pulled the Illini within one at 6-5. After a walk to Johnson, Dittman knotted things up with a sacrifice fly to center field.

It wasn't tied for long, as the Bison retook a 7-6 lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. After a scoreless fifth by both teams, the Illini evened the contest at seven in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout from Johnson that plated Argo.

Sophomore pitcher Brian de la Torriente pitched a scoreless sixth and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh, keeping the affair all square heading into the eighth. The lllini threatened in the eighth after a sacrifice bunt by Giller moved the runners to second and third, but the rally was thwarted after a runner was thrown out at home and a strikeout ended the inning.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, senior reliever Mike Sterk came on for de la Torriente and induced a groundball deep in the hole to the shortstop. Parr backhanded the grounder and threw to Pete Cappetta for the out at second, but the relay throw to first was just late, allowing the game-winning run to score.

Giller and Hohl each notched a pair of RBIs on the afternoon, as the Illini fell to 3-8 on the season. Bucknell used six different pitchers and improved to 9-7.

Illinois continues its Spring Trip on Friday at 10 a.m. CT, as it squares off against Akron at Lake Myrtle Main in Auburndale, Fla. Freshman Kevin Johnson will take the mound for the Illini.