March 20, 2001

Box Score

Terre Haute, Ind. - The University of Illinois Baseball team fell to Indiana State 4-1 this evening at Sycamore Field in Terre Haute, Ind. With the loss Illinois drops to 8-9 on the year on the eve of the Big Ten season opener on Friday.

Illinois had plenty of chances in the game as Indiana State walked nine Illini and hit one, but Illinois left nine men on base and failed to execute on scoring chances throughout the game.

Meanwhile, Indiana State made the most of its chances, manufacturing two runs off Illini starter Josh Gold in the fourth inning and adding single runs in the seventh and eighth off relievers Ryan Kvasnicka and Reilly Smith, respectively.

Illinois got its single run in the sixth inning when, with runners and second and third and one out, first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer hit a sac fly to left field to score Brady Ballard.

Illinois starter Josh Gold (0-4) threw six solid innings, allowing two runs on only three hits while striking out nine and not walking a batter.

For the offense, T.F. Meagher was 2-3 with two singles while Brady Ballard went 1-2 with a double, a run scored and three walks. Schutzenhofer was 0-2 with an RBI, a sac fly and a sac bunt, snapping his career-high 20-game hitting streak.

Illinois opens Big Ten play this weekend against Michigan State. Illinois entertains the Spartans at 4 p.m. Friday and at 1 p.m. both Saturday (DH) and Sunday at Illinois Field.