April 11, 2000

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team fell to Illinois State, 9-8, in ten innings Tuesday afternoon at Redbird Field on the campus of Illinois State University. Illinois, previously 6-0 in extra inning games, lost its first extra inning game of the year while falling to 23-10 overall. Illinois State improved to 17-14 overall.

"We got in a situation today where our bullpen did not do a very good job," Illinois Head Coach Itch Jones said. "They gave up five runs in the last four innings and our offense went five or six innings without scoring a run."

Illinois jumped out to a 7-2 lead after three innings, as ace Jason Anderson threw the first two innings for Illinois while the offense racked up two in the second and three in the third. Leading the charge was Big Ten Player of the Week Chris Basak, who had a single, a triple and four RBI in the first three innings.

But the offense went stagnant after that and did not score again until the 10th. Meanwhile, reliever Kevin Arft gave up single runs in the fourth and sixth before Arft and closer Matt Vorwald allowed ISU to plate three in the seventh to tie the game.

Neither team scored again until the 10th when Illinois struck first. Luke Simmons drew a leadoff walk off Redbird reliever Steve Hecker. Creston Whitaker, running for Simmons, then moved to third on a one-out single from Rob Fischer. Jeff Gertz then scored Whitaker on a squeeze.

ISU came back in its half of the 10th against Illinois' Joe Sprengard. Leadoff hitter Jacob Perganson walked and was sacrificed to second by Seth Von Behren. Jared Dufault then walked to give catcher Steve Reyes runners on first and second with one out. Reyes fought off a number of pitches before sending one into the rightfield corner for a game-winning double.

Illinois returns to action Wednesday evening against Indiana State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Illinois Field.