May 17, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped its second straight extra-inning game to Iowa in game one of its Saturday doubleheader, falling 5-4 in 10 innings. Illinois got a two-run home run from Drew Davidson in the first inning, and a game-tying solo shot from Sean Patrick in the eighth inning, but fell to 25-26 on the year and 10-19 in the Big Ten. Iowa improved to 18-27 overall and 10-19 in Conference play.

Illinois didn't waste any time getting on the board in game one. After Josh Lane threw a scoreless first, Eric Eymann led off the bottom half of the inning with an infield single before Drew Davidson followed with a blast to left that gave Illinois a quick 2-0 lead.

Illinois added to its lead in the bottom of the second as Brandon Cashman led off with a double and immediately scored when Vince DiMaria followed with a single to left.

Iowa scored a single run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run from left fielder Lance Guyer, then tied the game 3-3 in the top of the seventh. Luis Andrulonis delivered a sacrifice bunt that plated Jim Reid from third with one out and Andy Lytle delivered a two-out game-tying single that scored Brian Bucklin, who had reached on a single earlier in the inning.

After Jeff Gremley hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth off Illini reliever Reilly Smith to hand Iowa a 4-3 lead in extra innings, Sean Patrick answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom half of the eighth to re-tie the game 4-4, and send the game into the ninth.

After a scoreless ninth, Iowa reclaimed the lead in the 10th inning when Kyle Thousand led off with a double and came around to score on a groundout to second off the bat of Lance Guyer. Illinois threatened in the 10th as Brandon Cashman reached third, but no one was able to bring him home against Iowa closer Andrew Hansen.

Lane allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. The senior faced the minimum through 3 1/3 in his final appearance at Illinois Field. Smith suffered the loss, falling to 2-3 on the year after allowing two runs in three innings of work. Iowa starter Reed Pawelk went nine innings to improve to 2-7 on the season, and Andrew Hansen secured his third save of the year with a scoreless tenth.

Illinois and Iowa wrap up their four-game Big Ten series with a single nine inning affair Sunday beginning at 1:05 p.m. The eight seniors in the Illini Class of 2003 will be honored prior to first pitch.