March 30, 2007

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Leftfielder Ryan Snowden was 4-for-5, his second multiple-hit game in a row, and closer Jake Toohey stranded the tying run at third base for his first save as Illinois pulled out a 14-13 win over Purdue in front of 844 fans at Lambert Field, the second-largest crowd in school history, to open the Big Ten season. Snowden combined with third baseman Brandon Wikoff and catcher Lars Davis to go 8-for-16 with six runs and four RBI, and second baseman Ryan Hastings knocked a two-run home run to lead the Illini to their first win on an opponent's field this season.

Illinois (8-9 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten) opened the floodgates in the first inning, starting with Snowden swatting a first-pitch double down the left-field line. He scored on Wikoff's single and Davis' base hit put runners and first and second with no outs. Rightfielder Daniel Webb sacrificed the runners over a base and first baseman Mike Rohde drove them both in with a single to right. Shortstop Shawn Roof plated Rohde with a base hit then stole second. One out later, Hastings blasted the 1-0 pitch to right field for his second home run of the year, putting the Illini up 6-0.

The Boilers (10-9, 0-1) scratched across a run in the bottom half after a walk, a hit batter and consecutive groundouts, but Illinois scored four in the top of the fourth. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson singled and stole second, then moved to third on Snowden's single and scored when the centerfielder misplayed the base hit. Wikoff's flyout moved Snowden to third and Davis drove him in with his second hit of the day. Webb grounded to third in what looked like a sure double play, but the third baseman threw wide of second base, allowing Davis to move up to third and leaving Webb at first. Rohde drove in Davis with a single and Roof's groundout scored Webb after he had moved to third on a passed ball, pushing the lead to 10-1.

Purdue cut the lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Illini added a run in the fifth when Hastings and Hudson drew consecutive walks to start the inning. Snowden then drove in Hastings with a single to left for an 11-3 advantage. The Boilermakers got back a run in the bottom half, but Illinois added two more in the seventh.

With one out, Hudson walked and stole second. Snowden's single brought him home and Wikoff was hit by a pitch. One out later, Webb drove in Snowden with a base hit to left, pushing the lead to 13-4. But that's when the game got interesting. Purdue scored four in the bottom of the seventh after chasing Illini starter Tanner Roark with the bases loaded. Omar Kadir entered in relief and struck out the first two batters he faced. Pinch-hitter Dan Black then shot a double down the right-field line that new first baseman Mike Giller couldn't make a play on, clearing the bases. After another RBI base hit, Kadir got out of the inning with a 13-8 lead.

In the eighth, Illinois pushed across what proved to be the winning run when Roof reached on an error by the third baseman and stole second. One out later, he moved to third on Hastings' groundout and scored when Hudson laced a single through the right side. But the Boilers pounded out five runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, catcher Spencer Ingaldson hit a solo homer, then first baseman Ryne White reached on an error by Roof. Shortstop John Cummins singled and DH Andy Preston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brian Long relieved Kadir and induced a grounder to second that Hastings tagged second on but couldn't turn the double play in time. Black once again poked a double, this time down the left-field line, and second baseman Eric Osborn knocked a two-run single that cut the margin to 14-13.

The Illini went 1-2-3 in the ninth, bringing Toohey into the game with a one-run lead. He got lead-off man Jordan Comadena to foul out to deep left field before giving up a double to Ingaldson. But Toohey induced a groundout to second from White and struck out Cummins on three straight pitches for his first save of the season.

Offensively, Snowden drove in two and scored three runs, and Hudson was 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks, two steals and an RBI. Rohde went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Davis was 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI and Wikoff went 2-for-5 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a steal. Roof also stole a pair of bases, giving him 16 in 18 tries this season.

Up Next: The Illini and Boilers tangle in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon (CT). Scott Shaw and Mike Stankiewicz are slated to start for Illinois, while Purdue will send Ricky Heines and Dan Sattler to the hill.