March 22, 2006

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - Seven Illini had multiple hits as Illinois set new season highs for runs and hits in a 15-7 win over Vermont. The Orange and Blue improve to 4-0 on Spring Trip and 8-6 overall after pounding out 21 hits and doubling their season home run total against the Catamounts.

First baseman Dave Schultz led the hit parade with a season-best four hits, while third baseman Mike Rohde and back-up shortstop Dominic Altobelli each hit home runs. Catcher Lars Davis was 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs and shortstop Shawn Roof went 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, three RBI and a run.

"Up and down the lineup, everybody contributed," Illini coach Dan Hartleb said. "We did a good job moving runners and coming up with hits or sacrificing with runners in scoring position. From an offensive standpoint, it was an impressive day."

Trailing by two after three innings, Illinois scored one in the top of the fourth. Davis singled to right and moved to second when Schultz was thrown out trying to score after Davis got caught in a rundown. Designated hitter Chase Kliment moved Davis to third with a base hit and second baseman Ryan Hastings' sacrifice fly to center drove Davis in, cutting Vermont's lead to 2-1.

The Illini then broke through in the fifth with seven runs on seven hits and a walk. Three Illinois hitters strung together consecutive singles to load the bases, and Schultz drove in Trevor Huisinga with another base hit. Davis' single scored Ryan Snowden and Kliment scored Rohde with a sacrifice fly. Hastings walked to reload the bases and Shawn Roof lined a triple down the right-field line to clear the bases. Kyle Hudson then drove in Roof with a single to give Illinois an 8-2 lead.

The Catamounts scored once in the bottom of the fifth and twice in the sixth before the Illini added five runs in the seventh on six hits. Snowden's two-RBI single highlighted the inning, and Schultz and Davis each drove in a run with a base hit. Kliment also recorded an RBI with a sacrifice fly. Vermont scored once in the seventh, but Dominic Altobelli got it back in the eighth inning when he pulled a 1-0 fastball just inside the left-field foul pole for his first collegiate home run. The Catamounts put another on the board in the eighth, but Rohde recovered it when he smacked an 0-2 inside fastball over the right-field wall for his first home run of the season, putting the Illini up 15-7 through eight-and-a-half innings.

Joel Barickman picked up the win with two innings of relief work, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three. Tanner Roark started for Illinois and worked three innings, including a 1-2-3 third inning that included his first strikeout at Illinois.

"I was pleased in Tanner going out, being very composed and going after hitters," Hartleb said. "And even though we gave up a lot of hits, every pitcher who went out there today made some adjustments that pitching coaches (Ken) Westray and (Brett) Herbison have been working on with them."

In addition to the power surge, Illinois recorded a sacrifice bunt and three sacrifice flies. The Illini also stole five bases, including two by Hudson. In the later inning, Illinois was able to get each of its bench players into the game.

"We were able to get every position player in and they all either took some good swings or did something good in the field," Hartleb said. "We're starting to develop a bench and that will be very important later in the year."