Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - Illinois pulled out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning but couldn't make it hold up as the bats went silent over the final three frames and the Illini dropped a 7-6 decision at Louisiana-Lafayette. Brandon Wikoff recorded his first three-hit game as in the Orange and Blue going 3-for-5 with a run, and Shawn Roof went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run.

Illinois drew first blood in the second game of the series, when freshman third baseman Brandon Wikoff led off the game with a line drive up the middle and moved to second on senior shortstop Shawn Roof's squibber that died to the left side of the mound for an infield single. Junior catcher Lars Davis lined a single off the glove of the first baseman to drive in Wikoff and advance Roof to third. One out later, senior first baseman Mike Rohde singled through the right side to score Roof, then junior right fielder Daniel Webb singled through the left side for his first hit as an Illini, plating Davis. After a double-steal, Rohde scored on freshman DH Mike Giller's groundout, posting Illinois to a 4-0 lead - the first time UL had trailed this season.

"We jumped out and swung the bat very well in the first inning," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "In the future, we need to continue to widen the gap and learn to put teams away when we have a lead."

The Ragin' Cajuns got two of those runs back in the bottom of the first, but the Illini put another on the board in the third. With two outs, Webb smacked a double over the centerfielder's head then scored on Giller's single up the middle, making the Illinois lead 5-2.

The Orange and Blue added to the lead in the sixth when Kyle Hudson knocked a single to left-center and moved to second on Wikoff's base hit to right. Roof collected a double when his hit bounced in front of the centerfielder and ricocheted off him toward left field, driving in Hudson to push the lead to 6-2

Illini starting pitcher Mike Stankiewicz held the Cajuns at bay in his first start at Illinois, until the sixth inning when UL touched him for three runs on three hits to pull within 6-5.

The Cajuns pulled even in the seventh when catcher Jonathan Lucroy ripped a two-out double, then scored on Devery Van De Keere's base hit to center, tying the game 6-6.

In the bottom of the ninth, second baseman Devon Borque drew a lead-off walk, shortstop Xavier Alexander sacrificed him to second and pinch runner Josh Logan stole third. Centerfielder Nolan Gisclair then ripped a single through the left side to score Logan and give the Cajuns the win.

For the Illini sophomore starter Mike Stankiewicz went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits despite holding the Cajuns scoreless in four frames. At the plate, Webb and Hudson each went 2-for-4, Webb with a double, an RBI, a run and a steal. Hudson also scored a run.

"I've been pleased with the composure of our young players," Hartleb said. "Wikoff, especially, has stepped in like he's been there before."

The Illini finish the series Sunday with a 10 a.m. game against the Cajuns. Sophomore Ben Reeser will start for Illinois, while UL will send left-hander Brent Solich to the hill.