April 2, 2005

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois swept two games from Ohio State after scoring in the first inning of each contest, winning the first game 4-1 and the second contest 5-4. It is the first time the Illini have won the first three games of a Big Ten series since they took the first three from Michigan in 2003. Illinois has a six-game winning streak, it's longest since a 10-game string at the beginning of the 2002 season.

Senior Jimmy Conroy went the distance in the first game to notch his fourth win of the season, allowing only one run on three hits and a walk while striking out six. Second baseman J.R. Kyes was 2-for-4 with a run in the first game and 3-for-4 with his first career home run, two runs and three RBI in the second contest.

In the first game, Illinois scored in the first inning, plating four runs in the opening frame en route to a 4-1 victory in seven innings. Second baseman J.R. Kyes reached on an error by the third baseman to lead off the game, then moved to third on catcher Chris Robinson's double down the right-field line. First baseman Dusty Bensko then drove them both in with his double down the left-field line. One out later, designated hitter Mike Rohde joined the doubles party with his own two-base hit to right-center, driving in Bensko and center fielder Drew Davidson - who was hit by a pitch - to give Illinois a 4-0 lead after one inning.

Ohio State scored once in the sixth, but that was the only blemish on Illini starter Jimmy Conroy. The righthander threw a complete-game, going seven innings and allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out six. Kyes was 2-for-4 with a run and shortstop Toby Gardenhire continued his assault on Buckeye pitching, going 2-for-3. Bensko was 1-for-2 with two RBI, a run and a hit-by-pitch. Davidson was hit by three pitches during the course of the game, never recording an official plate appearance in the Illini victory.

Kyes led off the second game with a base hit and scored one out later on Davidson's double. Davidson moved to third on the throw home when Kyes scored and he beat the throw home on Bensko's grounder to third base, giving Illinois a 2-0 lead after an inning. The Illini put three more on the board in the fourth when Kyes drove in third baseman Frk and Gardenhire with his blast to right field, Kyes' first career home run.

This season is the first time since 2000 that Illinois has won the first three games of the Big Ten season, and the first time since 1998 that Ohio State has lost its first three games of the conference season.

The Illini (13-5-1, 3-0) will go for the series sweep vs. Ohio State (13-7, 0-3) on Sunday afternoon at Illinois Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.