May 3, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Andy Schutzenhofer laced a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth inning and came in to score on a throwing error one batter later to give Illinois a 5-4 extra inning win in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader against Michigan State. The win moves Illinois' overall record to 23-20 while the team improves to 9-13 in Conference play.

The first game of the day saw Michigan State jump to a 2-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings before Illinois got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fourth. Brandon Cashman laced a one-out single to left, stole second, went to third on a single off the bat of Dusty Bensko and scored Illinois' first run of the game when Chris Robinson grounded to the right side of the infield.

MSU added a run in the top of the fifth to move the score to 3-1, but Illinois rallied in the bottom half of the sixth off MSU starter Tim Day. Cashman again sent a one-out single to left, stole second, went to third on another Bensko single and scored on a Robinson single to right. Illinois tied the game later in the inning when Ted Rowe, running for Bensko, scored from third on an RBI groundout off the bat of Joe Parenti.

Michigan State broke the tie and reclaimed the lead in the top half of the seventh. With one out right fielder Travis Gulick hit his second home run of the day and eighth of the season off Illini reliever Reilly Smith to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead.

But Illinois came right back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Drew Davidson hit a one-out single, went to second on an error and third on a ground out before Brian Raymond, who had entered the game in the top half of the inning as a defensive replacement, beat out a two-out bunt single to plate Davidson with the tying run.

Smith (2-1) earned the win after allowing one run on four hits in three innings of relief. MSU reliever Ryan Golem suffered the loss. He allowed one unearned run in one inning of work. Illini starter Josh Lane went six innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits.

Offensively for Illinois, Davidson, Cashman, Bensko and Robinson each had two hits, and Andy Schutzenhofer's ninth inning double was Illinois' only extra base hit of the day.

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