March 25, 2003

Box Score

Bradenton, Fla. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped its series finale to Ohio State, 6-3, this afternoon in the final game of its Spring Trip to Bradenton, Fla., but still finished the trip 4-1 and 10-3 overall. OSU improved to 9-6 on the year with the win.

Illinois opened up an early lead when Brandon Cashman scored the game's first run on a Drew Davidson single in the bottom of the first inning. But OSU answered off Illini starter Reilly Smith in the top of the second, plating two to take a 2-1 lead.

The game continued to see-saw in the bottom of the second, when T.F. Meagher hit a one-out single and Chris Robinson, Tuesday's starting catcher, sent a home run, the first of his career, over the right field wall to give Illinois a 3-2 lead.

From there the game was scoreless into the top of the fifth, when OSU came back to plate four runs off relievers Jimmy Conroy and Jake Toohey to open up the final 6-3 margin of victory.

Conroy (1-1) suffered the loss, while OSU reliever Greg Prenger (1-0) earned the win.

Illinois returns home to Champaign Wednesday and will host Indiana in the first Big Ten Conference series of the year Friday-Sunday at Illinois Field. First pitch Friday is at 4:05 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday's series finale will be at 1:05 p.m.