April 2, 2002

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois pounded out 14 hits to defeat Western Michigan 14-1 Tuesday afternoon in frigid temperatures at Illinois Field. Led by a three-run home run from Luke Simmons and a three RBI day from Andy Schutzenhofer, Illinois improved to 12-4 while Western Michigan fell to 7-8. Because of the weather, the second game of the originally scheduled doubleheader was cancelled.

The game stayed scoreless through the first 2 1/2 innings of the seven inning contest, but then the Illini bats exploded for six runs in the third with the big blast being Simmons' first home run of the year. Paced by a Schutzenhofer single, Illinois scored four more in the fourth before adding one in the fifth on an RBI double off the bat of Trevor Frederickson. Illinois finished the scoring with three runs in the sixth as 11 different Illinois batters collected at least one hit in the game.

While the offense scored early and often, Illinois starter Reilly Smith held the Broncos to one run in five innings of work. The sophomore righthander allowed the one run on five hits to pick up the win and improve to 1-0 on the year. He struck out two and walked one before being pulled in favor of Ryan Parks, who threw a scoreless two innings of relief in his first appearance of the season. WMU starter Clark Sterley suffered the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Illinois and Western Michigan will play a single game Wednesday at Illinois Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.