March 11, 2006

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The middle innings were the undoing of Illinois as Texas-San Antonio scored five runs in the fourth and sixth frames combined to pull away for an 8-3 win in front of 1,622 fans in the Baseball Express Collegiate Classic at Wolff Stadium. Ryan Hastings was 3-for-5 with an RBI, but Illini pitchers allowed six walks and hit four batters to add to three errors in the field as UTSA extended its winning streak to six games.

"Our pitchers were behind in the count the entire game," Illini coach Dan Hartleb said. "Their hitters had a lot of advantage counts, but even when we're behind in counts we have to work down in the strike zone."

After spotting the Roadrunners a two-run lead in the top of the first, Illinois fought back with a pair in the bottom of the inning. Shortstop Shawn Roof drew a leadoff walk and Hastings singled up the middle. Third baseman Mike Rohde reached on a fielder's choice, giving the Illini runners at the corners with one out. After a strikeout and a stolen base by Rohde, catcher Lars Davis drove in both runners with a base hit to left-center field, tying the game at 2.

Illinois surrendered three more in the fourth inning on three hits, two walks and two errors to give UTSA at 5-2 lead. The Roadrunners tacked on two more in the sixth off reliever Aaron Martin and another in the seventh before Illinois countered with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Rightfielder Trevor Huisinga drew a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on centerfielder Joe Bonadonna's flyout. One out later, Hastings drove him in with a base hit through the right side to cut the margin to 8-3.

"Their pitcher did a good job, but we hit too many balls in the air with the wind blowing in," Hartleb said. "We had done a good job to this point of hitting line drives and hard ground balls and we didn't do that tonight. We just have to take this as a learning experience and come out ready to roll tomorrow."

But the Illini were unable to muster much offense the rest of the game and the Roadrunners added a run in the ninth for a final margin of 9-3. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak and evens Illinois' record at 4-4. The Illini return to action Sunday night at 7 p.m. against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are 4-5 but have won both their games this weekend.