March 20, 2006

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - Chase Kliment went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in his first start in over a week and the Illinois bullpen protected a one-run lead as Illinois defeated Massachusetts 4-3. The Illini scored three runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and three relievers combined to allow only four baserunners in the last three innings, giving Illinois its second three-game winning streak of the season.

"It's good to be in close games and come out with wins so our players can learn how to win in those situations," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "I was very pleased with how our pitching kept us in the game and we were able to get a few clutch hits."

The Illini got on the board in the fifth when leftfielder Chase Kliment drilled a 1-0 pitch over the right-field fence to take a 1-0 lead. It was Kliment's second homer of the year and the second for Illinois. But the Minutemen responded with three runs on two hits and three Illinois errors in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead after five innings.

"I'm disappointed with our infield play because it's been something that has been solid over the past couple of weeks," Hartleb said. "I'm sure those guys will make adjustments and rebound from this."

Illinois fought back with three runs on six hits in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead. With one out, catcher Lars Davis singled and moved to third on designated hitter Dominic Altobelli's base hit to left-center. Second baseman Ryan Hastings drove in Davis with a double down the right-field line and Altobelli scored on Kliment's single to left. Shortstop Shawn Roof then plated Hastings with another single to re-take the lead.

Martin struck out a pair and induced a ground ball out in the seventh and Aaron Saving allowed only one base runner in the eighth to preserve the one-run lead. Illinois then appeared to be on its way to adding some insurance runs in the ninth when Hastings drew a lead-off walk and Kliment followed with another before Joe Bonadonna pinch-ran for Kliment and both runners moved up a base. One out later, centerfielder Kyle Hudson bunted for a base hit but the runners weren't able to advance, loading the bases. But the margin stayed at 4-3 into the bottom of the ninth after a foul pop-up and a flyout ended the inning.

Whitmore came in to shut down the Minutemen, but the anxiety level heightened when Roof pulled up on a ground ball and it skipped under his glove to let the lead-off hitter reach base. A UMass pinch hitter sacrificed the runner over, but Whitmore snagged a hot ground ball through the box and coaxed a fly ball to center to record his third save of the season.

Hastings went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI, Roof was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Hudson went 2-for-3. Kadir scattered four UMass hits over six innings, allowing only two earned runs on a walk and three strikeouts to earn his first win at Illinois.

"Chase came in and got two big RBIs and the bottom of the order was very productive with Roof and Hudson," Hartleb said. "Throughout the lineup, we took good swings and hit the ball hard, it was just right at people."

Illinois has a day off Tuesday before facing Vermont in an 11 a.m. (CT) game on Wednesday.