March 12, 2005

Box Score

Arlington, Texas - Illinois starter Jimmy Conroy worked efficiently, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking two. He faced three hitters in four innings, twice setting the Maverick hitters down in order. Conroy and reliever Jake Toohey kept the top of the UTA batting order off the bases, limiting the first four Maverick hitters to a 2-for-13 day with one walk.

"We got outstanding pitching from Jimmy Conroy for seven innings," Illinois coach Richard "Itch" Jones said. "And Jake Toohey came in and did an excellent job today."

The Illini got two hits apiece from first baseman Dusty Bensko, third baseman Chad Frk and designated hitter Mike Rohde. Frk scored twice and second baseman Shawn Roof had two RBI and a well-executed suicide squeeze bunt. Illinois also took advantage of two Maverick errors while remaining flawless in the field.

"To see those guys get two hits is good," Jones said. "Now they just have to start getting them with men in scoring position."

Illinois scored first, plating a run in the fourth after third baseman Chad Frk led off with a base hit. Designated hitter Mike Rohde singled through the right side on a hit-and-run, advancing Frk to third. Frk then scored on second baseman Shawn Roof's double-play groundout to second base, giving the Illini their first lead of the series, 1-0.

UTA touched Conroy for a run in the fifth, but the Illini regained the lead in the sixth by scoring twice for a 3-1 margin. Roof drove in his first run of the day with a seeing-eye single to right field that plated Bensko, who had reached on a base hit through the left side. Shortstop Toby Gardenhire followed by driving in Rohde from second with a base hit up the middle.

The Illini added an insurance run in the eighth when Frk scored his second run of the game on Roof's suicide squeeze bunt. Frk reached on a leadoff single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored when Roof placed his bunt perfectly between the pitcher and first base to give Illinois a 4-1 lead.

"We're starting to get men into scoring position, now we just have to bunch our hits together and drive them in," Jones said. "Once we start driving them in we're going to win a lot of ballgames."

UTA scored one in the eighth, but Toohey shut the door on the Mavericks in the last two innings, earning the first save of his career.