May 3, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped the nightcap of its Saturday doubleheader to Michigan State, 5-3, this evening at Illinois Field. The loss drops Illinois to 23-21 overall and 9-14 in Big Ten play. Michigan State improves to 16-28 overall and 8-13 in the Big Ten.

Illinois fell behind early in the second game. MSU plated a pair of runs in the top of the second inning off Illini starter Joe Ziemba and another three in the top of the fourth for a 5-1 lead.

Illinois picked up its only run in the bottom of the third inning. T.F. Meagher led off with a walk, went to second on a balk and stole third before scoring on a sac fly from Drew Davidson.

Illinois added a second run in the fifth. Davidson singled to left, went to second when Andy Schutzenhofer was hit by a pitch and scored from second on a single off the bat of Trevor Frederickson.

Illini starter Joe Ziemba suffered his loss, falling to 5-2 on the year after allowing five runs on 10 hits in seven complete innings of work. MSU starter Jeff Gerbe went the distance for MSU, improving to 3-2 on the year after allowing two runs on eight hits.

A seventh inning rally fell short for Illinois, as the team loaded the bases with one out but was only able to score on run to close the final margin to 5-3.

Illinois and Michigan State conclude their four-game Big Ten series with a single nine inning game Sunday at 1:05 p.m.