April 17, 2007

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois jumped out to a big lead early and cruised to an 18-4 win over Illinois State on a season-high 23 hits in front of 621 fans at Redbird Field. Third baseman Brandon Wikoff went 3-for-5 with his first career home run, and Normal, Ill., native Craig Lutes went 3-for-6 with four RBI, two runs, a double and a triple.

"We were patient at the plate and got pitches up in the zone," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "When we did that, we hit balls hard. We moved runners early in the game, and also hit well in RBI situations."

The Illini jumped ahead with a four-run second inning. First baseman Mike Rohde led off with a single and DH Daniel Webb hit a base hit toward the left-field line that moved Rohde to third. Shortstop Shawn Roof's single knocked in Rohde and second baseman Ryan Hastings singled to second to load the bases. Rightfielder Nick Stockwell drove in Webb with a sacrifice fly, and Lutes, who got the spot start in center, tripled to right-center in his homecoming, driving in two. Leftfielder Ryan Snowden walked and stole second before Lutes scored and Snowden moved to third on a passed ball, posting Illinois to a 5-0 lead.

After starter Aaron Martin worked a quick second inning, the Illini picked up where they left off in the third when Roof led off the inning by getting plunked, then stole second and third. One out later, Stockwell was hit and Lutes singled to right-center, driving in Roof and moving Stockwell to third. Snowden drove in Stockwell with a base hit and Wikoff walked. Catcher Lars Davis then plated Lutes with a sacrifice fly and Snowden scored on a wild pitch, making the Illini lead 9-0.

Illinois added a four-spot in the fifth when Stockwell led off with a single and, one out later, Snowden walked. Wikoff then crushed a three-run home run to right-center, the first extra-base hit of his career. Davis followed with an inside-the-park homer to right-center that tipped off the edge of the centerfielder's glove and rolled around the warning track as Davis circled the bases, pushing the lead to 13-0.

The Illini put up four more runs in the sixth, all with two outs. Pinch-hitter Joe Bonadonna singled and Wikoff singled. Davis walked to load the bases and was pinch-run for by Aaron Ifft. Rohde then tripled to the wall in right-center, clearing the bases. Webb followed with a base hit through the right side that drove in Rohde and put the lead at 17-0.

ISU scored one in the sixth off Martin, who finished his outing with a final line of six innings pitched, one run, seven hits, a walk and three strikeouts. The Redbirds added two in the seventh off reliever Omar Kadir, but Illinois got a run back in the ninth when Hastings led off with a double and Lutes doubled him home for an 18-3 score. ISU scored an unearned run in the ninth to make the final score 18-4.

"Martin rebounded from a rough start on Saturday and gave us quality innings tonight," Hartleb said. "He was down in the zone and stayed out of the middle of the plate. As he settled down he was able to work ahead."

Wikoff led the team, going 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBI, two runs and two walks. Lutes was 3-for-6 with four RBI, two runs, a double and a triple, and Webb went 3-for-4 with a run. Rohde hit 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs, and Snowden was 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs, an RBI and a steal. Roof went 2-for-5 with two runs, an RBI, two steals and a hit-by-pitch. The pair of steals moves Roof into tenth all-time in school history. Hastings also went 2-for-6 with two runs.

Jonathan Smiley also tossed a perfect eighth inning in relief, striking out one batter.

Up Next: Illinois has a quick turnaround, hosting Robert Morris Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Illini then travel to Iowa City for a four-game weekend series with the Hawkeyes beginning with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday.