April 2, 2006

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Mike Rohde was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, but Illinois left 12 runners on base and lost 9-4 in the series finale to Purdue in front of 522 fans at Illinois Field despite out-hitting the Boilers 11-8. Three Illini errors and seven walks were the downfall as Illinois slipped to 13-8 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten, good for fourth place in the league standings after the first weekend of play.

Purdue continued its hot starts by scoring two runs in the first inning, meaning they scored in the first inning of each game of the weekend. Illini starter Scott Shaw struggled from the beginning, walking two and hitting one in the first inning as Purdue scored twice.

The Boilers added another pair in the third inning before Illinois got on the board with two in the bottom of the fourth. Trevor Huisinga beat out a bunt single and stole second before Ryan Snowden singled and Rohde drove in both runners with a double to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Boilermakers added a run in the seventh, but the Illini countered when Dave Schultz singled to lead off the inning and moved to second when Lars Davis drew a one-out walk. Both runners moved up a base on a balk and Schultz scored on Ryan Hastings' groundout to make the Purdue lead 5-3.

But the Boilers broke the game open with four runs in the eighth off Illinois reliever Tanner Roark, who was in his fifth inning of work. The crowning shot was a three-run home run off the scoreboard by Eric Wolfe to put Purdue up 9-3. Illinois got one run back in the bottom of the frame when Rohde singled, moved to second when the leftfielder bobbled his base hit and scored on Schultz's double. But Boiler closer Chris Toneguzzi set down the Illini in order in the ninth to make the final score 9-4.

On the weekend, Schultz hit .471 with three RBI and three runs and led Illinois with a .588 slugging percentage. Huisinga went 6-for-13 (.462) on the weekend and reached base at a team-high .500 clip. Closer Matt Whitmore recorded two saves in two chances, making him 6-for-6 on the season. He did not give up a hit in two innings of work while striking out three and walking one.

The Illini stranded 12 base runners on the day including eight in scoring position. Illinois left the bases loaded in the third inning and stranded two runners in three other innings.

Up Next: Illinois has a quick turnaround, hosting Western Michigan in a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams begin the series at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday and finish it at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday.