April 20, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped the series finale to Minnesota, 7-6, this afternoon at Illinois Field. After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Illinois rallied all the way back to tie the game at five in the sixth inning but were unable to come back for the series clincher. Instead, Illinois and Minnesota split the weekend series as the Illini dropped to 20-14 overall and 8-8 in the Big Ten. Minnesota improved to 23-13 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Jeremy Hunter hit a three-run home run over the centerfield wall off Illini starter Brian Blomquist.

After a scoreless second, Illinois began its comeback in the bottom of the third inning when shortstop Eric Eymann hit a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field.

Illinois added another in the bottom of the fourth. Trevor Frederickson led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, went to third when Brandon Cashman followed with a double and scored when Chad Frk grounded out to third.

But Minnesota added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning. Three-straight one-out hits, including a double from catcher Jake Elder, led to a pair of Minnesota runs when Tony Leseman sent a two-run single straight up the middle that gave Minnesota a 5-2 lead and chased Blomquist in favor of Reilly Smith.

Illinois came all the way back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. A lead-off single by Frederickson and walk by Cashman put runners on first and second, and two outs later T.F. Meagher singled to load the bases for Eric Eymann, who came to the plate with two outs to face his former high school teammate, Minnesota reliever Brian Bull. Eymann lofted a fly ball to center that Minnesota centerfielder Sam Steidl lost in the sun, watching it drop in front of him for a bases-clearing double that tied the game at five all.

Minnesota reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth off Illini reliever Dave Mazurek. Matt Fornasiere hit a pinch hit RBI single to open a 6-5 lead, and Luke Appert added a two-out single up the middle to plate Fornasiere and give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.

Illinois climbed to within one in the bottom of the eighth. Cashman led off with his second double of the day, went to third when Frk saw a single drop in to left and scored on a fielders choice RBI off the bat of catcher Chris Robinson.

Bull (4-1) earned the win. He threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Jeff Moen got his fourth save of the year after retiring Brandon Cashman to end the game after Illinois had put runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth. Mazurek (3-4) suffered the loss, falling to 3-4 on the year after allowing two runs on three hits.

Illinois returns home Tuesday against the Illinois State Redbirds. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.