April 14, 2001

Box Score

Iowa City, Iowa - The University of Illinois baseball team (18-18/6-8 Big Ten) dropped a Big Ten doubleheader to the University of Iowa (14-14/5-7 Big Ten) this afternoon at Banks Field on the campus of the University of Iowa. Illinois dropped game one, 2-0, despite an impressive pitching performance out of starter Justin Olson, and then dropped game two, 7-0, after being three-hit for the second-straight game.

Illinois wasted an outstanding outing from Olson in the first game as the team got shutout 2-0. Illinois was three-hit for the second time this season and shutout for the first time by Iowa freshman lefthander Ryan Mentkowski, who improved to 2-1 on the year after throwing his third complete game of the season.

Olson fell to 2-2 on the year despite going six complete innings and allowing only four hits. His only slipup of the day came in the fifth of seven innings when he loaded the bases with two outs and then allowed Hawkeye shortstop Kurt Vitense to single sharply to left, scoring two runs.

Illinois was no hit in game two through 4 1/3 innings until Luke Simmons dropped a single to left with no one out in the fourth inning. Iowa starter Chad Blackwell didn't miss a beat after Simmons broke up the perfect game, retiring the next six Illini hitters before Andy Schutzenhofer and Rob Fischer slapped consecutive singles with one out in the seventh and final inning, but Illinois was unable to advance either runner past second base. Blackwell (2-2) threw seven complete innings, allowing only three hits while striking out eight and walking none.

Iowa scored its first two runs in the third inning off Illini starter Matt Vorwald. Vorwald walked Bryce Coppieters to lead off the inning, and the Iowa centerfielder stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. First baseman Brad Carlson then hit a two-out solo home run over the rightfield wall to close out the scoring in the third.

Vorwald fell to 3-3 after allowing two runs in the third and three in the sixth after giving way to reliever Dave Mazurek, who came into the game with the bases loaded and no one out. Mazurek threw one inning, allowing the final two runs (one earned) on three hits.

Illinois and Iowa conclude their four-game series Sunday with a single game schedule for 1:00 p.m.