April 18, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped its series opener to the University of Minnesota, 7-0, this evening at Illinois Field. With the loss Illinois dropped to 18-13 overall and 6-7 in the Big Ten while Minnesota improves to a perfect 11-0 in Conference play and 22-11 overall.

Minnesota opened scoring by manufacturing a run in the top of the third inning. Tony Leseman led off the inning by drawing a walk from Illinois starter Ted Rowe, advanced to second on a ground out to first, went to third on another ground out and scored when Luke Appert legged out a two-out infield single.

Minnesota added to its lead in the top of the fifth. Jake Elder reached on a leadoff error and came home two batters later when Ben Pattee singled up the middle. Luke Appert followed with a sharp single to right, plating Sam Steidl, who had walked with one out. Minnesota opened a 4-0 lead when Scott Welch followed Appert with a one-out sac fly to center that plated Pattee.

Minnesota increased its lead in the top of the eighth. Pattee led off with a single and scored when Appert followed with a double to center. One out later, Andy Hunter opened a 7-0 lead when he sent his first home run of the season off the left field foul pole.

Illinois threatened in the first, second and third innings, putting a runner in scoring position all three times, but was unable to get on the board against Minnesota's freshman starter, Glen Perkins. Perkins limited Illinois to six hits while striking out 15 and walking only one to improve to 5-1 on the year.

Rowe (3-4) suffered the loss. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits in eight innings of work.

Illinois returns to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Minnesota scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start. First pitch for Sunday's series finale will be at 1:05 p.m.