April 1, 2000

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team defeated Northwestern 5-0 this afternoon in Big Ten play behind a two-hit shutout from junior righthander Jason Anderson. The win improves Illinois' overal record to 16-7 and its Big Ten record to 4-1. Northwestern falls to 13-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Anderson threw nine shutout innings, allowing only two hits while striking out six against the Wildcats, who entered the game hitting a Big Ten leading .357 as a team. He cruised through the first two innings, giving up only a leadoff double in the third to Brandon Ackley. He had two out in the fourth when catcher Joe Hietpas hit a line drive straight back to the mound that hit Anderson in the neck, knocking the pitcher down for about five minutes. But the junior popped back up to hold the Wildcats hitless for the final 5 1/3.

"Jason Anderson did an outstanding job keeping Northwestern intact all day," Illinois head coach Itch Jones said. "He was able to take the pressure off the offencse and the defense was outstanding, particularly Craig Marquie at third and Andy Schutzenhofer at first."

Illinois threatened against Wildcat ace Zach Schara almost every inning and finally got the flood gates to open in the sixth. D.J. Svihlik led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch that Andy Schutzenhofer struck out on but reached first on the wild pitch. Craig Marquie then grounded out, and the Wildcats intentionally walked Luke Simmons with one out to set up the double play. But second baseman J.P. Williamson bobbled a grounder from Joe Parenti, and Svihlik and Schutzenhofer both came in on the error. Simmons would later score on a wild pitch and Parenti came in on a Jeff Geriz sac fly to build a 4-0 lead.

"Our offense kept battling away until something happened," Jones added. "This was a good win for Jason, the team and the pitching staff, which now has thrown back-to-back shutouts."

Illinois added another run in the seventh when Brady Ballard was tripled in by Svihlik, who finished his day 3-for-5 with a single, double and triple.

Illinois and Northwestern continue their four-game set with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.