May 21, 2010

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Illinois capitalized on a two-out Indiana error to score seven runs in the sixth inning and held on for the win as the Illini kept their postseason hopes alive with a 17-12 victory over the Hoosiers Friday at Sembower Field. Third baseman Brandon Hohl had his second two-homer game of the year, going 3-for-4 with a pair of dingers and three RBIs, and left fielder Casey McMurray was 3-for-6 with three doubles as every starting position player for both teams had at least one hit in the game.

Illinois improves to 26-25 overall, 10-13 in the Big Ten. Depending on the outcome of the rest of Friday's conference games, the Illini could move as far as into a tie for sixth place.

"We were good offensively, hitting some mistake pitches hard and taking advantage of some errors," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "And Corey Kimes gave us some scoreless innings, which were huge in a game like this."

The Hoosiers scored first, pushing across a run on a single, a hit batter and a double in the first inning, to take a 1-0 lead. They added a run in the second on a leadoff homer to go up 2-0 on the Illini.

But Illinois tied it up in the third on three doubles. Shortstop Josh Parr laced a leadoff double over third base and came home after a pair of groundouts to second base. McMurray dropped a bloop hit into left and advanced to second when IU left fielder Alex Dickerson slipped on the wet grass for a two-bagger. DH Thomas Shelton then doubled off Dickerson's outstretched glove to bring home McMurray and make the score 2-2.

Hohl came up with one out in the fourth and drilled the first pitch he saw to left-center for his third homer of the year and a 3-2 Illini lead.

Indiana tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a walk, a pair of wild pitches and an RBI grounder to make the score 3-3.

Illinois fought back with three runs in the fifth after center fielder Willie Argo was hit to start the frame. After an out, McMurray rapped a double to left field, putting men on second and third, and Shelton singled up the middle to drive in a run. Right fielder Pete Cappetta singled through the right side to bring home McMurray and Shelton came home on a groundout by catcher Adam Davis to put the Illini up 6-3.

But the Hoosiers responded with a six-run fifth inning, knocking seven hits - including two home runs - before Kimes, Illinois' third pitcher of the inning, was able to retire the side with Indiana up 9-6.

The Illini kept battling in the sixth as second baseman Christian Cummins smashed a double to left-center and moved to third on Parr's groundout. Argo drove him in with a groundout to shortstop for the second out. Lutes walked on a full count and McMurray doubled down the left-field line, putting men on second on third. After a pitching change to bring in IU closer Chris Squires, Shelton struck out swinging, but the ball was in the dirt. As Shelton scampered to first, Hoosier catcher Dylan Swift tried to chase him down before eventually overthrowing first base to allow the Illini DH to reach first and Lutes to score. Cappetta dropped an RBI single into left-center and stole second to put men back on second and third. Davis then singled through the right side to bring home both runners and Hohl smashed his second homer of the day on the first pitch he saw, pushing the Illini up 13-9.

Kimes hit the first batter in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a single off Cummins' glove before tallying a strikeout, a fly-out to Argo and a groundout to Cummins to end the inning. After the Illini went down scoreless in the seventh, Kimes allowed an infield hit to start the bottom half before getting a groundout. A wild pitch put a runner on second, but Kimes coaxed a pop-up to Hohl and snagged a sharp liner up the middle to retire the side.

Bryan Roberts replaced Kimes to start the eighth and gave up a run after a single and an RBI double, bringing the Hoosiers within 13-10.

But the Illini tacked on four more runs in the ninth on five hits. Hohl doubled to right-center and, one out later, Parr singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Argo then laced a 3-2 pitch over the right fielder's head for a two-run triple and Lutes smacked an RBI double down the left-field line. After an out, Shelton knocked the first pitch he saw over the head of the Hoosier center fielder for an RBI double, pushing the Illinois advantage to 17-10.

Indiana scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on three doubles, but Roberts coaxed a fly-out to McMurray for the final out and the 17-12 win.

Hohl led the offense, going 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, three RBIs and three runs. McMurray went 3-for-6 with three doubles and three runs, while Shelton was 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs. Parr was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs, and Cappetta stayed hot, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs, a run and a steal. Argo was only 1-for-5 with a triple but drove in three, scored twice and tied the school single-season steals record with his 40th steal of the year.

Kimes earned his second win of the year with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out two on 40 pitches.

The Illini and Indiana square off in the decisive game three of the series Saturday at noon CT, with Kevin Manson starting for Illinois as the Orange and Blue try to play their way into the Big Ten Tournament. Matt Carr will start for the Hoosiers.