May 15, 2006

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Following a two hour, 20-minute rain delay before play began, Illinois came out flat and dropped a doubleheader by scores of 5-4 and 2-0. In the first game, Illinois came from behind twice, but Indiana scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to get the one-run win. In the nightcap, Hoosier starter Doug Fleenor stifled Illini hitters, scattering five hits along with a career-high seven strikeouts in a complete-game shutout while the Indiana offense scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Illinois is now tied for fifth in the Big Ten standings at 27-24 overall, 13-15 in conference play.

"I'm extremely disappointed with our composure all weekend," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "Their pitcher did a good job, but we didn't do anything to take him out of his rhythm."

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 right fielder 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.

In the nightcap, Brian Blomquist had his best outing since earlier this season at South Florida, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one. But the Illini offense struggled to get anything going, putting just two runners into scoring position. The Illini were shut out for the second time this season, both coming in the last seven games.

"Blomquist did a much better job today," Hartleb said. "He pitched well enough to win but the offense didn't give him much help."

Illinois' best chance came in the eighth when Schultz drew a one-out walk, followed by a Huisinga single. After Hudson fouled out on a bunt attempt, Joe Bonadonna pinch ran for Schultz. But Snowden flew out for the third out of the inning, stranding a pair.