April 13, 2007

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - Tanner Roark had a career-high nine strikeouts in a career-long seven-inning outing and Nick Stockwell went 4-for-4 with two RBI as Illinois topped Northwestern 6-2 in the series opener at Rocky Miller Park. The Illini never trailed in the game and Jake Toohey recorded his third save of the season with a five-out appearance.

"This was the first time this season that Tanner has consistently thrown with a good downhill angle," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said, "and that allowed him to raise his strikeout total and give us a very good outing. As a staff, we pitched very well situationally today with runners on base."

Illinois (12-13 overall, 4-3 in the Big Ten) jumped on top in the second with a two-run frame. With one out, first baseman Mike Rohde doubled down the right-field line and shortstop Shawn Roof followed with a near carbon copy of Rohde's two-bagger to drive him in. Roof moved up a base on a groundout and scored on rightfielder Nick Stockwell's base hit to left, putting the Illini up 2-0.

Roark struck out the side looking in the second inning, then avoided potential trouble in the third when the lead-off man reached on an error, but Roark struck out the next hitter before striking out Antonio Mule and having catcher Lars Davis throw out the runner attempting to steal for a strike-`em-out, throw-`em-out double play to end the inning.

But Northwestern scored a pair off Roark in the fourth on three hits, a hit batter and a walk, cutting the margin to 3-2. Roark settled back down, though, retiring the Wildcats on 10 pitches in the fifth and nine pitches in the sixth.

In the seventh, Snowden tied the school hitting streak record with a single to center and, one out later, Davis was intentionally walked. After a double-steal advanced both runners, DH Daniel Webb's hot shot up the middle was gloved by Wildcat second baseman Caleb Fields but he lost it on the exchange, allowing Snowden to score and push the Illini lead to 4-2.

Roark worked around a fielding error and an infield hit in the seventh, striking out two more and inducing a grounder to first to end the inning. The Wilmington, Ill., native finished his day with a career-high seven innings pitched, allowing eight hits, two runs and a walk while striking out a career-high nine.

In the ninth, Davis laced an 0-2 pitch into left-center for a one-out single and he moved to third on a botched pick-off attempt. Webb walked and was pinch run for by Joe Bonadonna. After a Northwestern pitching change, Bonadonna stole second and Davis stole home on the throw to second. Bonadonna then scooted to third when the shortstop's throw home was wide and scored on Rohde's second double of the game, making Illinois' lead 6-2.

Closer Jake Toohey got a five-out save, his third of the season. He didn't allow a hit and walked two, but struck out one and induced an inning-ending line-out double-play to escape the eighth inning.

Stockwell led the Illini at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Rohde went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI, and Davis extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games with a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included a double and a steal of home plate.

"We had weapons from the top of the order to the bottom today," Hartleb said. "Rohde had a good day, and you could see that he has made some mechanical adjustments in the last week. He had a number of quality at bats and used the whole field."

Up Next: The same two teams square off in a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The last three games of the series can be heard live on WDWS AM-1400 or on fightingillini.com.