March 21, 2003

Box Score

Bradenton, Fla. - The University of Illinois Baseball team topped the University of Vermont, 4-2, in 10 innings this afternoon in its first game of the annual Spring Trip in Brandenton, Fla. Joe Parenti smacked a pinch hit double to center that scored T.F. Meagher with the game-winning run to improve Illinois' overall record to 7-2 on the year.

Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second off Illinois starter Brian Blomquist. The Catamounts got a leadoff double from Jay Iannoni, who subsequently went to third on a single and scored on a sac fly to grab the early lead.

Illinois came right back in the top of the third innings. T.F. Meagher reached on a one-out error and Vince DiMaria followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Meagher then came in from second when Brandon Cashman followed DiMaria with a single of his own, and DiMaria gave Illinois a 2-1 lead when he scampered home on a double steal.

Vermont came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a one-out walk came back to haunt Blomquist when Vermont's Kyle Brault, who had reached on the walk, scored on a Dean Geoffrey RBI single.

The scored remained knotted at two all until the 10th inning with plenty of thanks going to Illini reliever Dave Mazurek, who came in in the bottom of the ninth inning and got himself and Illini reliever Andy Sigerich out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the tie and force extra innings.

In the top of the 10th the Illini offense made sure the game wouldn't go any deeper into extra frames when Meagher led off by getting hit by a pitch. He went to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Joe Parenti, who had entered the game in the bottom of the ninth as a defensive replacement, smacked a double to the wall. Parenti added insurance when Andy Schutzenhofer singled him in one batter later.

Mazurek retired the Vermont batters in order in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the two-run lead and earn the win, his second of the year. Vermont reliever Chris Blazek suffered the loss after allowing one run in 2/3 innings of work.

Offensively, Drew Davidson was a bright spot for the Illini, going 2-for-4 with a double and triple. He was the only Illini with more than one hit on the day as Illinois had only six hits compared to Vermont's 12.

Illinois returns to action Saturday morning with a 10 a.m. eastern contest against Eastern Kentucky. The time is a change from the schedule announced earlier.