April 10, 2005

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. - The Fighting Illini baseball team dropped its first Big Ten game of the season, 11-9, to Michigan State as the Spartans capitalized on four Illinois errors and some shaky relief pitching from the Illini bullpen. Illinois got three hits each from Trevor Huisinga (3-for-5, three runs, two RBI) and Drew Davidson (3-for-5, two doubles, two runs), but left 12 men on base to take its first conference loss.

"We had some defensive letdowns today and our guys struggled out of the bullpen," Illinois coach Itch Jones said. "But we did have some bright spots. Saving has done a great job all weekend and was effective today. Murphy did an outstanding job - came in with the bases loaded and gave up a single but then got out of the inning to keep it close and give us a chance at the end."

The Illini, in what is becoming routine, took an early lead with a run in the top of the first. But the Spartans fought back with three in the bottom of the inning before Illinois closed the gap with a run in the second.

The Orange and Blue put five on the board in the third inning on three hits, two Michigan State errors and a safety squeeze bunt to grab a 7-3 lead. But the Spartans drew within 7-5 by scoring a pair in the bottom of the frame before the Illini added another run in the fourth.

"We were able to get a lot of runs early and then after that we didn't keep pressing offensively," Jones said. "We left a lot of runners on base with the middle of our lineup up, and you can ask for much more than putting those hitters in that position."

Lefthanded starter James Morris (Eldorado, Ill./Eldorado) lasted five-plus innings before Jake Toohey (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) relieved him to get out of the sixth only giving up one run. But Toohey surrendered four runs in the seventh, two earned on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings, an uncharacteristic outing. Aaron Saving got out of the inning, but gave up a run in the eighth before Brandon Murphy worked out of a jam in the eighth with consecutive strikeouts.

The loss dampens what was an excellent offensive weekend for Illinois, as the Illini hit .360 as a team, scoring 36 runs and notching 13 extra-base hits. Bensko went 6-for-14 (.429) with nine RBI and four runs, knocking a home run and a double for a .714 slugging percentage. Davidson hit 7-for-16 (.438) continuing to feast on Big Ten pitching by scoring eight runs and driving in two with four doubles on the weekend. Second baseman J.R. Kyes stayed hot, hitting 7-for-17 (.412) on the weekend with six runs, two RBI, two doubles and a triple, to improve his season batting average to a team-leading .420.

Aaron Saving (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) was solid throughout the weekend, allowing only four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven and walking only one. And starters Jimmy Conroy (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman) and Brian Blomquist (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) each notched a win - Conroy's a complete-game seven-inning effort on Saturday - to improve to 5-0 and 6-1, respectively.

"We're happy with where we are," Illinois coach Itch Jones said. "If you told us before the season that we could be 7-1 against Ohio State and Michigan State, we would've taken it, although it's still disappointing to lose this one when we had a lead late. If our pitching stays strong and our defense goes back to how it was at the beginning of the year, we can definitely keep this run going."

Illinois (17-8-1, 7-1) returns home Tuesday night against Bradley (6:05 p.m.) and will host Robert Morris Wednesday (6:05 p.m.) before opening up a four-game Big Ten series vs. Michigan on Friday at Illinois Field.