May 15, 2006

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Illinois came back from two one-run deficits, but Indiana scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Sembower Field.

Indiana scored a run in the bottom of the second, but the Illini responded with two in the third. Second baseman Ryan Hastings led off with a hard single through the box and rightfielder Trevor Huisinga ripped a single through the right side. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson put down a 3-2 bunt single and left fielder Ryan Snowden drove in Hastings with a sacrifice fly. Huisinga was able to score on shortstop Shawn Roof's safety squeeze bunt, giving Illinois a 2-1 lead.

The Hoosiers added a pair in the third on two hits, a walk and an Illinois error, taking a 3-2 advantage. But the Illini put up two more in the fourth when catcher Lars Davis lined a 1-0 pitch to the opposite field for his fifth homer of the year, a two-run blast that put Illinois up 4-3. The homer came after Indiana was unable to turn a double play on a Chase Kliment grounder, leaving Kliment on first base for Davis to drive in.

Once again, the game took a weird turn in the sixth inning when Jon Fixler doubled to left-center, chasing Illini starter Tanner Roark. Ben Greenspan beat out an infield single and Andrew Means lifted an apparent single down the left-field line. Fixler scored, but Means passed the runner at first, who was tagging up. With the force play remaining intact, Snowden threw the ball to Hastings for a 7-4 putout. However, Tyler Cox singled through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. Michael Nilles then shot another single through the left side that drove in Cox to put Indiana up 5-4.

Huisinga led off the seventh with a single to right and moved to second on Hudson's sacrifice, but he was stranded there as Illinois lost 5-4. On the game, Huisinga was 2-for-3 with a run, and Davis was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run.