May 15, 2004

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team dropped its series opener to Minnesota, 12-6, in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field. The loss drops Illinois to 19-29 overall and 8-17 in the Big Ten while Minnesota increased its lead in the Big Ten race while moving to 31-17 overall and 17-8 in the Big Ten.

After Illinois and Minnesota traded single runs in the bottom of the first and top of the second, Minnesota used five hits and a walk to put five on the board and chase starter Brandon Murphy while opening a 6-1 lead.

Illinois answered with a single run scored on a Drew Davidson two-out single in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 6-2.

Back-to-back singles from Dusty Bensko and Ryan Rogowski led to a two-run fourth that closed the gap to 6-4. With Bensko and Rogowski on first and third, Trevor Huisinga sent Illinois' third-straight single to left to plate Bensko, and two batters later Eric Eymann hit into a fielders choice that plated Rogowski and moved the game to 6-4.

Bensko keyed another rally in the fifth that moved Illinois to within one run at 6-5. Chris Robinson led off with a single, went to second on a passed ball and came in to score when Bensko laced a double off the right field wall.

Minnesota added a pair of runs in the sixth off reliever Andy Sigerich to re-open a three run lead at 8-5. UM then added four in the top of the ninth and Illinois got one in the bottom half for the final 12-6 margin.

Illini starter Brandon Murphy suffered the loss, falling to 1-3 on the year after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings of work in his first career Big Ten start. Minnesota starter Glen Perkins improved to 7-2 on the year after allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out seven.

Offensively, Robinson paced the Illini effort, putting together a 4-for-5 afternoon, while Bensko and Huisinga added a pair of hits each.

Illinois and Minnesota return to action Sunday with a doubleheader. Action has been moved up to a 12:05 p.m. first pitch with the first game last seven innings and the second game lasting nine.