April 1, 2006

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Jake Toohey threw six strong innings to lead Illinois to a 3-2 victory over Purdue in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, but the Boilermaker offense put up 13 hits in a 10-4 defeat of the Illini in the nightcap in front of 893 fans at Illinois Field. Rightfielder Trevor Huisinga went 3-for-5 on the day, and shortstop Shawn Roof was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs as Illinois took a 2-1 series advantage into Sunday's game. The loss in the nightcap snaps a nine-game Illini winning streak that was the team's longest since a 10-game streak in 2002.

Toohey allowed only two runs on seven hits in six innings of work, striking out five and walking one to keep Illinois (13-7 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten) in the first game. The Illini finally grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fifth when DH Chase Kliment was hit by a pitch with two outs and catcher Lars Davis singled. Second baseman Ryan Hastings walked to load the bases and Roof singled in two runs to give Illinois a 3-2 lead.

After Toohey worked out of a first-and-third with one out jam in the sixth, Matt Whitmore earned his sixth save in as many chances, needing just nine pitches to set down the Boilers in order in the seventh inning and preserve a 3-2 win.

Illinois' other run came in the second inning after Purdue (12-8, 1-2) had scored in the first. Roof reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Huisinga's single. Centerfielder Joe Bonadonna then drove in Roof with a base hit to right field, tying the game at 1.

After cruising through the first game in under two hours, the nightcap got off to an ominous start when Illini starter Omar Kadir walked the bases loaded in the first inning. He managed to get out of the inning with a sacrifice fly and a strikeout as Purdue took an early 1-0 lead.

The Illini scored once in the third inning after Huisinga singled, Bonadonna sacrificed and third baseman Mike Rohde singled to drive in Huisinga, tying the game 1-1. Purdue put up a four-spot in the fourth, but Illinois fought back with three in the bottom of the inning.

DH Dominic Altobelli singled and moved to second on Hastings' groundout. Roof then drove him in with a base hit before stealing second base, his third steal of the day. Davis doubled, but Roof was only able to advance one base because the Purdue centerfielder nearly made a running catch. Huisinga's groundout drove in Roof, but the Illini rally ended there.

Leading only 5-4 into the sixth inning, the Boilers scored five runs off reliever Brian Long, three of them unearned, to take a 10-4 lead that held up. In the nightcap, Altobelli and Davis each went 2-for-3 with a run as Kadir took his first loss of the season.

The Illini and Purdue finish the series Sunday at 1 p.m. All admission will be $2 with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.