April 5, 2002

Champaign, Ill. - The Illinois Baseball team dropped its Big Ten home opener to Purdue, 6-2, this evening at Illinois Field to fall to 13-5 on the year and 1-4 in the Big Ten. Illini ace Andy Dickinson suffered the loss, snapping a personal 10-game winning streak for the senior and dropping his record to 5-1 on the season. With the win Purdue improved to 11-13 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

Purdue scored first, plating a single run in the second after loading the bases with no one out. Dickinson was able to pitch out of a potential big inning, however, by inducing PU shortstop Mitch Koester to ground into a double play.

Illinois got that run back and one more in its half of the second as Patrick Arlis led off with a double, extending his hitting streak to 16 games. After Drew Davidson walked behind him, Arlis scored on a Joe Parenti single. After Brian Raymond struck out and Parenti was called out when Sean Patrick grounded into a fielders choice, Davidson scored the go-ahead run on a double steal.

Purdue answered in the top of the third, when leadoff batter Adam Fazio scored on a Nick McIntyre single to tie the game at two all. And while PU starter Chadd Blasko shut down the Illini attack, Purdue was able to touch Dickinson for two runs in both the fifth and eighth innings to claim the 6-2 win. Blasko (3-3) went the distance to claim the win.

Dickinson (5-1) threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 13 hits. He walked four and struck out eight. Illinois collected only four hits off Blasko, they came off the bats of Andy Schutzenhofer, Patrick Arlis, Drew Davidson and Joe Parenti.

Illinois and Purdue resume their series with a Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Sunday's series finale is at 1:05 p.m.