April 12, 2003

Box Score

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The University of Illinois baseball team will go for its first series sweep in three seasons Sunday after the Illini defeated Michigan, 13-6, in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader on a sunny afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor. With the win Illinois improves to 18-10 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten while Michigan falls to 13-15 overall and 3-6 in Conference play.

"In the second game our offense did a great job of jumping ahead and giving Joe Ziemba a lead," Illinois head coach Itch Jones said. "We did a good job of putting runs on the board, keeping the pressure on their pitching staff and getting into the bullpen early."

Illinois jumped on the board immediately in the top of the first inning. Eric Eymann led off with a double, his sixth of the season and second of the day, and after advancing to third on a Joe Parenti single, scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Andy Schutzenhofer to give Illinois a 1-0 lead after a half inning of play.

After Michigan tied the game with a single run off Illinois starter Joe Ziemba in the bottom of the first, Illinois added three more in the top of the second for a 4-1 lead. Chris Robinson led off with a single and Chad Frk reached on an error to lead off the inning, allowing T.F. Meagher to sacrifice the two to third and second for Eric Eymann, who hit into a fielders choice. With the infield in, Robinson ran on contact and the throw from UM shortstop Nick Rudden was high, giving Illinois a 2-1 lead. After Joe Parenti reached on a single to right, Andy Schutzenhofer sent a two-RBI single up the middle, plating both Frk and Eymann for a 4-1 lead.

As the team had all series, Michigan came right back in the bottom of the second, plating two to bring the lead to within one at 4-3. But Illinois would again answer in the third, this time with a rally that began with a two-out walk to third baseman Chad Frk. Meagher followed Frk with a single to right and Eymann reached on an infield single to load the bases before Joe Parenti drew a bases loaded walk to score Frk, open a 5-3 lead and chase Tognetti from the game. Reliever Craig Murray relieved Tognetti and promptly issued a four-pitch walk to Andy Schutzenhofer to plate Meagher and give Illinois a 6-3 lead before he was able to retire Drew Davidson and end the inning.

Illinois kept the offense coming in the top of the fourth aided by three doubles. Brandon Cashman was hit by a pitch with one out, and Chris Robinson followed with a double that scored Cashman. After Chad Frk struck out, Meagher doubled to left to plate Robinson from second, and Eymann followed with his second double of the game and third of the day to plate Meagher and give Illinois a 9-3 lead. That double chased Murray from the game in favor of Tim Leveque.

But Leveque fared no better in the inning as Parenti greeted the senior with Illinois' fourth double of the inning that scored Eymann. Schutzenhofer followed with an RBI single, his fifth RBI of the day, that scored Parenti from second. Davidson followed with a sharp single to right before Trevor Frederickson delivered a double, Illinois' fifth of the inning, off the center field wall to score both runners, blow open a 13-3 lead and chase Leveque from the game.

Michigan added two runs in the sixth and a single run in the seventh to pull to within 13-6 but Illinois easily held on for the win. Ziemba (4-0) threw the complete game to remain perfect on the year. He allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits in seven innings of work. Ziemba struck out two and did not walk a batter. UM starter Phil Tognetti suffered the loss, falling to 2-2 on the year after allowing six runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Offensively Illinois had a number of stars, including shortstop Eric Eymann (3-for-3, three runs, two RBI, two doubles), Joe Parenti (3-for-3, one run, two RBI, double) and Andy Schutzenhofer (2-for-3, one run, five RBI).

Illinois and Michigan are scheduled to conclude their four-game Conference series with a single, nine-inning game Sunday scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.

Game Notes 1. Drew Davidson's fourth inning single increased his team-high hitting streak to 12 games. 2. Illinois will go for its first series sweep in three seasons on Sunday. The last time Illinois swept a series was March 31-April 2, 2000 at Northwestern. In that series, Illini ace Jason Anderson threw a two-hitter in the series opener Friday and Illinois won a pair of extra inning games on suicide squeeze plays to pull out the four-game sweep at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston.