May. 1, 2005

Box Score

University Park, Pa. - Illinois struggled offensively and fell victim to a five-run Penn State sixth inning as the Illini fell 9-1 in the series finale. However, Illinois (26-14-1 overall, 14-6 Big Ten) remains in first place with a two-game lead over Minnesota after the Golden Gophers lost to Purdue, 7-3, Sunday.

The Illini put together only four hits and drew only two walks from Penn State ace Sean Stidfole, who tossed a complete game, allowing only an unearned run while striking out eight in a 148-pitch performance.

"We didn't give the game away," Illinois coach Itch Jones said. "We just got beat by a better pitcher and a hot-hitting team."

Penn State (24-17, 10-10) piled up 14 hits, including nine in the last four innings as the Nittany Lions chased Illinois starter Jake Stewart and battered the Illini bullpen. Brandon Murphy (Charleston, Ill.) and James Morris (Eldorado, Ill.) allowed three runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman in 1 1/3 innings of relief before Jonathan Smiley finished the game with a scoreless inning of relief.

Illinois' only run came in the sixth to tie the game 1-1 when catcher Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ontario) laced a two-out single up the middle. Robinson then stole second and scored when Penn State shortstop Michael Milliron threw away Dusty Bensko's (Pleasant Plains, Ill.) ground ball that would have been the third out.

But the Nittany Lions put a five-spot on the board in the sixth, chasing Stewart after five hits, a walk and a sacrifice bunt. PSU added three more in the seventh off Murphy and Morris and Stidfole continued to cruise, facing only one batter more than the minimum in the final two Illini at-bats.

For the week, Robinson was 8-for-17 (.471) with 11 RBI, seven runs, three home runs and two doubles. He had a slugging percentage of 1.118, an on-base percentage of .526, a stolen base, and threw out 3-of-4 would-be basestealers, including 2-of-3 at Penn State.

Despite the loss, Illinois remains atop the Big Ten, two games ahead of Minnesota (22-20, 12-8) after the Gophers got swept in West Lafayette this weekend.

"We feel good about where we're at," Jones said. "We've got to play like we're on top and we can't let one loss bother us. We've played well for 20 games and now it's going to come down to the final 12."

The Illini return to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Southern Illinois before returning to Illinois Field next weekend for a four-game series with Northwestern.