March 7, 2003

Box Score

Louisville, Ky. - The University of Illinois baseball team used a five-run third and seven-run seventh to pick up an 18-9 win over the University of Louisville this afternoon at Cardinal Stadium in Lexington, Ky. Senior Andy Schutzenhofer went 4-for-5 with three runs and four RBI, and Joe Parenti added a three-run home run as Illinois improved to 2-0 on the year while Louisville fell to 8-3.

Illinois jumped on Louisville starter Mike Tisdale right away in the first inning. Joe Parenti hit a one-out double to the centerfield wall and quickly made it a 1-0 game when Andy Schutzenhofer followed with an RBI single. After Drew Davidson singled and Trevor Huisinga grounded into a fielders choice that erased Schutzenhofer, who was called out trying to score, Brandon Cashman singled to right with runners on first and third. That hit scored Davidson and gave Illinois and starter Joe Ziemba a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.

Louisville answered with one run in the first as leadoff man Dave Williams Jr. manufactured a run on his own by drawing a walk, stealing second, stealing third and then scoring when the throw to third was dropped by Illini third baseman Dusty Bensko.

After a scoreless second, Illinois added on to its lead in the top of the third, putting up five runs to open up a 7-1 lead. Parenti led off with a single up the middle and went to second when Schutzenhofer followed with a single. Davidson followed with a double to left that scored both runners and inticed a throw to the plate that allowed Davidson to advance to third. After Huisinga walked, Cashman collected his second RBI of the day with a long sac fly that scored Davidson to give Illinois a 5-1 lead. Bensko followed with a walk that chased Tisdall, but reliever Skylar Meade didn't fare much better, giving up RBI singles to both Chris Robinson and Eric Eymann before getting out of the inning.

Louisville got it all back in the bottom half of the inning when three straight singles to lead off the frame brought in one run. Louisville added another with an RBI single from Curt Stewart after a double play had given Ziemba two outs. The Cardinals added three more to close the game to 7-6 when Ryan McKinnon sent a two-run triple off the centerfield wall and Nick Haley followed with an RBI single up the middle that chased Ziemba in favor of Reilly Smith. Smith gave up a run-scoring single to the first batter he faced, Williams Jr., that tied the score at 7, before getting out of the inning.

Louisville took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Bensko's second error of the day allowed Curt Stewart to reach first and Josh Bolen to scamper home ahead of Schutzenhofer's throw.

Illinois regained the lead in the top of the sixth with a three-run rally. Robinson led off with an infield single and Meagher gave Illinois a pair of base runners when he saw a bloop single fall in with one out. After Parenti struck out, Schutzenhofer collected his third hit of the day, another single up the middle, that scored both Robinson and Meagher to give Illinois a 9-8 lead. Schutzenhofer then manufactured an insurance run, stealing third uncontested and coming home on a wild pitch to open up a 10-8 lead.

Illinois exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh, opening up a 17-8 lead. Huisinga and Cashman led off the inning with back-to-back singles. With those runners on first and third, Dusty Bensko grounded to short, picking up an RBI as Huisinga scampered home, and Cashman scored several plays later on a T.F. Meagher infield single. Joe Parenti then added the fireworks, sending a three-run home run, his first of the season, over the right field all for a 15-8 lead. After Schutzenhofer and Davidson followed Parenti's home run with singles, a series of Louisville errors allowed the Illini to add two unearned runs and open the 17-8 lead.

Illinois' final run came in the top of the eighth when pinch hitter Brian Raymond singled, made it to third on an error and scored on a Schutzenhofer sacrifice fly.

Louisville added an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning to move the score to 18-9.

Reliever Reilly Smith earned the win for Illinois, improving to 1-0 on the year after allowing two runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings of work. U of L reliever Skylar Meade suffered the loss, falling to 0-1, after allowing five runs, all earned, in 3 2/3 innings.

Illinois and Louisville resume their three-game set Saturday with a single game scheduled for noon central time. The series concludes Sunday at noon.

Game Notes: 1. Andy Schutzenhofer's four-hit day moved him into a tie for 10th place on Illinois' career hits list. Schutzenhofer currently has 232 career hits, just one behind ninth place. 2. Another Illini made his collegiate debut Friday, as freshman first baseman Brendon Cody pinch hit in the DH slot in the seventh inning. He reached on an error and made it to third base before the inning came to an end.