April 25, 2000

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team beat Illinois State 13-8 this evening at Illinois Field. With the win Illinois (28-16) snaps a season-long five-game losing streak while ISU (18-23) dropped its fourth-straight ballgame. Illini starter Jason Anderson (8-2) picked up the win after throwing two scoreless innings.

"We made some adjustments in our hitting today," Illinois Head Coach Itch Jones said. "Getting an early lead was important for us to be able to put the game away today."

Illinois' offense, which had been stagnant the last week, exploded for 13 runs on 17 hits. Illinois got one in the first inning when leadoff hitter Chris Basak was doubled home by designated hitter Ryan Lawrence. The Illini added six more in the third as the team sent 11 men to the plate in the inning, two in the fourth and four in the seventh on a pinch hit grand slam from Luke Simmons. Simmons' grand slam was his team-leading fifth homer of the season and the second pinch hit grand slam Illinois has hit this year.

The offense was paced by Lawrence, Fischer and right fielder Greg Belcher, who had three hits apiece. Chris Basak, Craig Marquie and Creston Whitaker each added one hit.

Illinois held ISU scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Redbirds got on the board with an unearned run. Anderson, Ryan Kvasnick and Tom Trayser threw two, three and three innings, respectively, holding ISU to five hits and one unearned run. But Illinois couldn't retire the Redbirds in the ninth. Dave Mazurek, making his first collegiate appearance, allowed six runs without getting an out. Joe Sprengard came on in relief, collecting two outs while allowing one run, and Matt Vorwald then came on to get the final out, which came on a line drive to right field.

Illinois returns to action tomorrow at Indiana State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.