April 8, 2007

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After pushing the series back two days because of frigid April temperatures, Illinois split a doubleheader with No. 25 Ohio State, winning game one, 8-5, before dropping the nightcap 10-7. Second baseman Ryan Hastings went 6-for-7 with four runs and an RBI in the twinbill, and shortstop Shawn Roof broke the school single-game hit-by-pitch record when he was plunked in all four plate appearances in the second game. The series, shortened to two games because of cold weather, marked the first time since Illinois' three-game series with Michigan State in 2003 that the Illini have had a conference series shortened by inclement weather.

"I challenged our guys after the Purdue series," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "As a staff, we got after them pretty good this week, so I'm very pleased with the way they approached the weekend. I thought they did a very good job of not letting Friday's and Saturday's games that were cancelled bother them. We came in with a good approach - we weren't stale, we weren't sluggish."

In the opener, third baseman Brandon Wikoff reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on catcher Lars Davis' single. Rightfielder Daniel Webb drove in Wikoff with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Illini lead.

Illinois (11-12 overall, 3-3 in the Big Ten) then touched OSU starter Cory Luebke for three runs in the second. With one out, Hastings singled and DH Nick Stockwell reached on an error by the third baseman. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson then singled to load the bases and, one out later, Wikoff beat out a single to the right side of the infield to drive in Hastings. Davis then drove in a pair with a single up the middle for a 4-0 lead. The Illini tacked on a run in the third when Hastings singled, moved to third on Stockwell's double and scored when Hudson reached on a fielding error by the shortstop for a 5-0 advantage.

But OSU (18-5, 4-2) fought back with single runs in the fourth and fifth, then a three-run sixth inning to tie the game 5-5. Illinois grabbed the lead back in the eighth when Eric Best relieved Luebke. With one out, Hastings reached on a bunt single and Stockwell was hit by a pitch. Hudson reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and Snowden was plunked to drive in a run. Wikoff walked, driving in another run, and Davis scored Hudson with a sacrifice fly, pushing the Illini on top, 8-5.

Closer Jake Toohey came on in the ninth and needed just nine pitches to retire the Buckeyes on a groundout, a strikeout and a flyout for his second save of the year.

In the nightcap, OSU jumped out to a quick five-run lead with two in the first and three in the second, chasing Illini starter Scott Shaw. But Illinois got three back in the second when Webb led off with a single and, one out later, Roof was hit by a pitch. Hastings singled to load the bases and Stockwell singled, driving in Webb. Roof scored on the play when the leftfielder misplayed the ball, and Hudson singled to re-load the bags. One out later, Wikoff singled to the hole on the left side of the infield, cutting the deficit to 5-3. The Illini tacked on a run in the third when Rohde knocked a one-out double and Roof was hit once again. After a flyout, Stockwell drove in Rohde with a base hit, bringing Illinois within 5-4.

But the Buckeyes put up a three-run fourth after a controversial play in the infield. With runners on first and second and one out, OSU centerfielder Matt Angle hit a chopper to second base. Hastings charged but collided with Buckeye DH Jacob Howell. No call was made, loading the bases. Hartleb pled his case for runner interference with the umpires, but to no avail, before OSU used a two-run single, a double-steal and an RBI groundout to pull out to an 8-4 lead.

"I thought any adversity we had in the entire game, we responded well to it," Hartleb said. "We always came right back in and swung the bats. Our guys didn't sit and pout and worry about different things that happened in the game, we just went out and we played hard and got right back into it."

Illinois kept fighting, pushing across a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Webb. After Aaron Martin worked scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, the Illini cut the margin to one in the bottom of the sixth. Wikoff led off with a base hit and Davis singled. Webb sacrificed the runners up a base but collided with the second baseman, who was covering first. In the aftermath, the ball squirted out of his glove, allowing Wikoff to scamper home. Davis moved to third on Rohde's flyout and Roof was hit once again. Hastings drove in Davis with a base hit to right, cutting the margin to 8-7.

Ohio State scored two in the seventh to ice the game, though. Martin gave up a pair of walks to open the inning before being relieved by Brian Long. Long gave up a sacrifice bunt before intentionally walking Howell. Angle singled up the middle to drive in both runs for a 10-7 Buckeye lead.

Hudson walked and stole second in the bottom half, but two strikeouts and a flyout later, OSU's Rory Meister retired the Illini and collected his third save of the season.

In the doubleheader, Hastings went 6-for-7 (.857) with four runs and an RBI, while Wikoff and Davis each hit 4-for-9 (.444). Wikoff scored three runs and drove in three, while Davis had three RBI and a run. Stockwell and Hudson both hit .429 in the two-game series (3-for-7). Stockwell doubled, drove in two and scored two runs, and Hudson stole a base and scored twice. Mike Stankiewicz picked up the win in relief in the first game after two scoreless innings of work.

Up Next: Illinois wraps up its longest homestand of the season when the Bradley Braves come to Illinois Field for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday. Bradley lost two of three games to Missouri State this weekend and brings a season record of 14-12 into the mid-week contest.