May 16, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped game one of its Big Ten series against Iowa this evening, 6-4, in 10 innings. The loss drops Illinois to 25-25 overall and 10-18 in the Big Ten while Iowa improved to 17-27 and 9-19 in Conference play.

Iowa jumped to a 1-0 lead right away in the first inning. Right fielder Nate Yoho hit a two-out single up the middle, went to second when a pickoff attempt got away from Illini first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer and scored unearned when Lance Guyer followed with a single to shallow left.

Iowa added another in the top half of the third. Kyle Thousand led off with a double to left, was sacrificed to third and scored when Guyer hammered a double to the right field corner. The Hawkeye lead increased to 4-0 in the top of the fourth when a four straight one-out hits scored a pair.

Illinois jumped on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fourth. Chad Frk laced a one-out triple to the right field fence and scored on a third strike wild pitch that allowed Brandon Cashman to reach first. Illinois closed the gap to 4-3 when Vince DiMaria followed Cashman with his third home run of the season that hit the top of the left field wall before falling over for a two-run shot.

After holding the Hawks for three innings, Illinois tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Sean Patrick led off with a double before being pulled for pinch runner Craig Lechowicz, who went to third on a sacrifice off the bat of Brian Raymond before scoring when Drew Davidson laced a two-out single to center.

Two scoreless innings followed, and the game entered the 10th knotted at four runs apiece. In the top half of the frame, Illini reliever Dave Mazurek allowed a two-out walk to Mike Best, who proceeded to score from first when Brian Bucklin followed with a double to the centerfield wall. The lead grew to 6-4 when Luis Andrulonis followed Bucklin with a run-scoring double of his own.

Mazurek (3-6) suffered the loss after allowing a pair of runs in two innings of work. Iowa starter Nathan Johnson earned the win, improving to 6-2 on the year after allowing four runs on seven hits in nine innings of work, while reliever Andrew Hansen earned his second save of the season with a scoreless 10th inning or work. Illini starter Ted Rowe did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits in eight innings of work.

Illinois and Iowa continue their four-game Big Ten series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4:05 p.m. prior to Sunday's series finale at 1:05.

Game Notes: 1. Indiana defeated Northwestern, 7-0, in game one of that Big Ten series Friday afternoon, mathematically eliminating Illinois from postseason contention.